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May
19, 2005
"Challenges
to American Competitiveness in Math and Science"
Testimony
by
June E. Streckfus, Executive Director
Maryland Business Roundtable for Education
to the
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Education and the Workforce
Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness
The Maryland Business
Roundtable for Education (MBRT) is a statewide, nonprofit coalition
of leading employers that has made long-term commitment to support
education reform and improve student achievement in Maryland.
Since 1992, the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education has played
a major role in transforming education. Led by an outstanding Board
of top corporate CEO's, MBRT provides a consistent, strong voice:
pushing for achievement of high standards; demanding a system of education
that prepares all students for the rigor of college and the workplace;
building strong, effective partnerships with all those who have a
stake in educational excellence and a quality workforce; and challenging
and motivating students to perform at high levels.
In Maryland, the bar has been raised on what students are expected
to know when they graduate. State Superintendent Grasmick and the
Maryland State Board of Education have set challenging academic standards
that are rigorous, but reasonable, and have strengthened graduation
requirements. Students entering high school in 2005 will be required
to meet these standards in order to receive a diploma. Yet, nearly
half of Maryland's high school students did not meet the standards
in 2004.
Many of today's high school graduates are entering the "real world"
seriously lacking the knowledge and skills they need to be successful
in college, the workplace, and in life. This not only limits their
chances to lead productive, rewarding lives, but it profoundly diminishes
the economic health, leadership potential and future prosperity of
our communities, our state, and our country.
MBRT's "Achievement Counts" campaign
is an award-winning, comprehensive campaign that mobilizes the community
at large to encourage students to achieve academic success. Each strategic
and interwoven component of Achievement Counts provides students with
strong messages delivered early, often, and by many.
- Maryland Scholars - Letting
students know that choices matter, courses matter
- Speakers Bureau - Showing
students that hard work in school pays off in life
- Teen Website - Engaging
students in career exploration and academic preparation
- Parents Count - Helping
parents help their children succeed in school
We believe that the student voice is paramount not only to the success
of Achievement Counts but to the education reform movement in general.
Too often, without intending it, adults in school systems and in school
policy positions have missed out on a powerful source of energy for
academic improvement - students' desire and ability to be responsible
partners in their own learning.
We conduct systematic research with students, create ways for students
to participate in designing the program and crafting the messages,
and empower students to be more directly engaged in guiding their
learning and shaping their future.
Through the newest component of Achievements Counts - "Maryland Scholars"
- MBRT, in partnership with the Governor and State Superintendent
of Schools, provides middle and high school students with compelling
information about the rigorous math and science coursework they need
to take and complete in high school in order to be successful in life
- whether they go to college or directly into the workplace.
Maryland Scholars Course of Study:
- 4 credits of English
- 3 credits of Math (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II)
- 3 credits of Lab Science (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics preferred)
- 3 credits of Social Studies (U.S. History, World History, Government)
- 2 credits of the same Foreign Language
Through Maryland Scholars - part of a national initiative funded by
the U.S. Department of Education through The Center for State Scholars
- more than 1,500 business volunteers were recruited, trained, and
managed. This year, these volunteers made 3,000 interactive classroom
presentations in 204 schools in 14 school districts to more than 70,000
middle and high school students (73% of the state's 9th graders and
27% of the state's 8th graders). Plans for 2005-2006 include reaching
100% of Maryland's high school freshman through this program.
Maryland Scholars was piloted in two districts (Frederick and Harford
counties) in the 2003-2004 school year. A comparison between baseline
and year-one data show significant increases in the percentage of
students completing Algebra I (by 9th grade), Algebra II, Chemistry,
Physics, and a 4th science course - particularly among low-income
and minority students.
In Frederick County, for instance, in the span of one year: 55 % more
students living in poverty completed Algebra I by ninth grade; 57%
more African American students completed Chemistry; and 80 % more
Hispanic students completed a fourth science credit.
What caused this dramatic increase? High expectations, creating an
atmosphere of access to rigorous courses, making it feel possible
for all kids, establishing small learning communities, redesigning
how rigorous courses are offered to accommodate slow learners, extending
learning time, providing students with credible reasons, good information,
targeted support, and a vision of what is possible for them.
As I have traveled to nearly every school district in Maryland over
the past two months, superintendents, administrators, teachers, parents,
and employers are speaking candidly and acting resolutely to ensure
that all students are well grounded in English, math and science.
We are participating in honest dialogue on barriers and shortcomings
and innovative thinking about policies and strategies that will improve
teaching and accelerate learning.
At a time when No Child Left Behind is demanding academic success
for all children and the State has raised the floor on what we expect
student to know, many Maryland school districts are raising expectations
even further. In all my years in education - including some as a teacher
and 14 as a business advocate for education reform - I have never
seen such widespread commitment, belief, focus and determination that
all children must be better prepared for the future.
And through our partnership with Maryland's K-16 Council, higher education
is playing, and must continue to play, a crucial role in improving
student achievement by: preparing teachers who are competent to teach
rigorous math and science content; providing academic support to struggling
high school students; offering incentives and rewards to encourage
students to complete rigorous coursework, including needs-based scholarships;
and facilitating processes that maximize the analysis and use of crucial
data.
We are working at an intersection of academic expectations, economic
success and a thriving workforce; creating a new model of interaction
among high schools, students and employers; and attempting to deliver
education in a 21st century context with 21st century content and
21st century tools.
Students can do it if adults stand firmly behind them.
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MBRT envisions that
achievement of our goals will result in the following realities:
- The Maryland
high school diploma signifies achievement of high standards.
- The public
carries the banner for educational excellence.
- The system
of continuous school improvement is self-sustaining.
MBRT focuses its efforts
in 2004 toward ensuring that students are well prepared for the future
workforce.
Ensure High School
Standards/Assessments Move Forward
- Communicate the
urgent need for student achievement of high standards to gubernatorial
candidates and other elected officials, school boards, and others.
- Communicate importance
of remediation and extra help for struggling students and lobby for
implementation of K-12 Interventions.
Demonstrate to students/parents
the connection between achievement in school and success in the workplace.
- Continue Speakers
Bureau in 15 school districts and increase number of speakers to 1,500.
- Launch Teen website
that students, parents, and educators can use to explore and build
career options.
- Promote parent
messages through Parents Count website and at workplace.
Convince business to
recognize student achievement and use high school transcripts.
- Develop electronic
transcript through K-16 Council and pilot in 3 counties.
- Develop and market
on-line tutorial for human resources directors.
Provide advice and
technical assistance to build capacity within business community in
4 local school districts to begin to develop a model for systemic business
involvement at the district level.
Use Technology
to Support/Improve Learning, Management, and Workforce Preparedness
- Release and market
improved Maryland Plan for Technology in Education 2002-2005, that shifts
from access to effective use of technology.
- Complete analysis
and release 2003 On-Line Inventory and the Digital Divide Report.
- Support Baltimore
City Mayor's Technology in the Schools Initiative.
Ensure Adequate
Funding and Evaluating Effectiveness
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