Science in middle school

This sounds like good news for science education in Hillsborough County: USF gets millions to train new STEM teachers

The University of South Florida is focused on producing a new crop of STEM middle school teachers, thanks to the school’s largest ever gift from the Helios Education Foundation — $3.16 million.

More than 90 percent of middle school students in the U.S. are taught math or science by a teacher working outside a field of expertise, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

In young minds, research shows, that can have dire consequences. Math and science literacy for American 15-year-old students dropped steadily over a decade compared to students in other countries, according to an international assessment.

“It happens to be a time in school when students tend to disengage around math and sciences,” said Stacy Carlson, vice president and program director for Helios in Florida. “If you can affect the effectiveness of teachers in the classroom, you can improve student achievement.”

About Brandon Haught

Communications Director for Florida Citizens for Science.
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One Response to Science in middle school

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