Common standards, linked with rigorous assessments and more effective systems of accountability, can guide stronger math and science instruction for all America students and improve the performance of teachers, schools, and classrooms. They set the bar for all students – from struggling to advanced – to master academically rigorous content and succeed in the global economy.
2011 UPDATE
In the two years since its release, the Opportunity Equation has promoted the goal of excellent, equitable STEM education for all students. This update covers major developments and highlights questions and priorities for the future. MORE
NRC Framework
Experts in science education discuss the emerging opportunities of the NRC's "A Framework for K-12 Science Education." MORE
STANDARDS & ASSESSMENTS
Connecting to Your Work
Read what’s happening in STEM education policy, practice, and research:
- Common Science Standards Face Capacity Issues
- Molding the next generation of computer scientists
- Regaining Our Lead in STEM Education | Commentary
VISUALIZATION
New designs transform the use of time, money, people, and technology to meet the needs of all students. MORE
Common Core Standards: Why Did States Choose to Adopt?
READ THE REPORT
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Duncan: Common Standards Will Produce Tech Innovations
01/20/2011
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan offered the audience a business forecast of his own: The push for common academic standards and tests across states is likely to produce technological innovations in schools.
- Press Release
Next Generation Learning Challenges Seeks Promising Technology Tools That Can Help More U.S. Students Get Ready For College
01/19/2011
The Next Generation Learning Challenges today announced a new round of challenge grants that will provide up to $10 million to expand promising technology tools and applications that help more students master math and literacy competencies, which are critical to college and career readiness.
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High Achievers Scarce in Math, Science in U.S.
01/11/2011
Some further analysis of the recent PISA results suggests that the U.S. is not exactly a world leader in producing top-tier performers in math and science.
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Schools in Md., D.C. to Adopt National Academic Standards, Revise Tests and Teacher Training
01/09/2011
D.C. and Maryland school officials have agreed to national academic standards and have begun to lay the groundwork for new tests and teacher training.
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An Early Glimpse at Gates-Funded Instructional Tools
01/03/2011
A new set of papers from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation offers us an early look at the lessons and assessments they're developing for the common core standards.
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Making P-16 Meaningful
12/17/2010
Education reformers have held out hope that the Common Core State Standards Initiative -- the bottom-up effort by governors and state school chiefs to define college readiness and create national standards and assessments to measure progress toward it -- could get college and K-12 leaders out of the silos in which they too often operate.
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First Step Toward Development of Next Generation Science Education Standards to Wrap Up in Spring 2011
12/15/2010
The first step toward developing the next generation of K-12 science education standards, a project led by the National Research Council (NRC) and known as the Conceptual Framework, will conclude in spring 2011.
- Press Release
Opportunity Equation Statement on PISA results
12/07/2010
Opportunity Equation Co-Chairs Michele Cahill and Phillip Griffiths comment on the release of the OECD's 2009 PISA results.
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Top Test Scores From Shanghai Stun Educators
12/07/2010
Students in Shanghai have surprised experts by outscoring their counterparts in dozens of other countries, in reading as well as in math and science.
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Coming to Terms with Common Core Standards
12/03/2010
