Strengthening Science Education in California: Research Findings.

Strengthening Science Education in California:

Research Findings

About the Initiative

Background

Methods

This report

Key Report Finding

Children rarely encounter high-quality science learning opportunities in California elementary schools because conditions that would support them are rarely in place.

Principal Assessment of quality of science instruction

How likely is it that a student in your school is receiving high-quality science instruction?

11%

34%

44%

12%

Very likelyLikelySomewhat likelyNot at all

Time for Science Learning and Teaching

Minutes of science instruction per week

Kindergarten

First grade Second grade

Third grade Fourth grade

Fifth grade0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120+61-12031-600-30

Perc

ent

of t

each

ers

Finding Time is a Challenge

Majo

r chall

enge

Moderat

e chall

enge

Minor c

hallenge

Not a ch

allenge

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

60%

28%

8% 4%

67%

23%7% 3%

PrincipalTeacher

Perc

ent

of e

lem

enta

ry t

each

ers

and

pri

ncip

als

Percent of Elementary School Teachers and Principals Reporting Limited time for Science Education as a Challenge

Teachers Face Many Challenges

Limited student interest

Lack of district support

Lack of facilities

Limited inservice education

Limited funds to purchase supplies

Emphasis on ELA and Math

Limited time for science

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

8%

47%

56%

66%

70%

81%

92%

“Major”or "Moderate" Challenge

Percent of elementary teachers

Strengthening Science Education in California Initiative

Accountability pressures related to English language arts and mathematics explain, in part, the lack of time for elementary science.

All types of schools are under pressure to focus on English language arts and mathematics.

Time

ELA an

d Math

Class s

ize*

Funding

No PD

Facili

ties

Distric

t support

Teach

er back

ground

Disciplin

e**

Parent s

upport**

Studen

t inter

est0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Not in PIIn PI

Perc

ent

of e

lem

enta

ry t

each

ers

Finding time for science through integration

All or almost every lesson

Often Sometimes Rarely or Never0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

130

102 100.9 94.3181818181811

Frequency with which elementary teachers integrate science into other subject

Aver

age

num

ber o

f min

utes

scie

nce

is ta

ught

pe

r wee

k

Teacher Fell Less Prepared to Teach Science than other subjects

Language arts

Math Social science

Life science

Earth science

Physical science

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Very prepared PreparedSomewhat preparedNot prepared

Perc

ent

of t

each

ers

Teachers who feel prepared to…

Teach science to a class that includes students who have special needs

Use inquiry/investigation-oriented teaching strategies

Use assessment tools to assess student learning in science

Integrate science content to support reading and/or math proficiency

Use kit-based science curriculum

Teach science to a class that includes students who are English language learners

Align science curriculum to California Science Standards

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

19%

26%

28%

29%

31%

31%

46%

Opportunities for PD are scarce

Lack of In-service Education Opportunities as “Major” or “Moderate” Challenge

Teachers Principals District representatives0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

62%57%

48%

Perc

ent o

f res

pond

ents

repo

rting

"m

ajor

" or

"m

oder

ate"

cha

lleng

e

Percentage of Teachers who Receive “Too Little” or “No Support at all” by School-Level Poverty Quartiles

Support in assessing my own knowledge of science content

Evaluation of my effectiveness in teaching science to my students

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

78 78

56 55

Highest poverty quartile Lowest poverty quartile

Perc

ent o

f el

emen

tary

teac

hers

Percentage of Teachers Reporting Limited Funds and Lack of Facilities as a “Major” or “Moderate” Challenge

Limited funds for equipment and supplies

Lack of facilities0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

66%

56%

Perc

ent o

f tea

cher

s

Principals believe science learning should begin early

92%

4%

2% 2%

KindergartenFirst gradeSecond gradeThird grade

Districts and schools lack infrastructure focused on improving science learning opportunities in elementary schools

Percentage of California Elementary Principals Reporting Significant Science Initiatives in the Past Five Years, by School-level Percent Free and Reduced-Price Lunch

Highest poverty quartile

Second poverty highest quartile

Second poverty lowest quartile

Lowest poverty quartile

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

33% 31%

49%

68%

Statewide poverty quartiles

Perc

ent

of e

lem

enta

ry p

rinc

ipal

s

Percent of schools/districts receiving funds from outside sources

Foundations (including educational foundations)

Community Service Organizations (Kiwanis, Rotary, etc.)

Other

Federal Funding Agencies (NSF, NASA, etc.)

Informal Learning Institutions (science centers, aquaria, zoos, etc.)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%School administrators District administrators

Percent of schools/districts receiving non-monetary support from outside sources

County Offices of Education

Institutions of Higher Education (colleges, universities)

Federal Funding Agencies (NSF, NASA, etc.)

Foundations (including educational foundations)

Local Business Organizations (Business Roundtable, etc.)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%39%

30%

27%

21%

12%

12%

10%

8%

7%

4%

16%

22%

11%

8%

5%

5%

6%

2%

1%

3%

School administrators District administrators

Press Coverage• Alameda Times Star• Aroundthecapitol• Bakersfield Californian• Big Education Ape • California Education News• California Federation of

Teachers• California Progress Report• Central Coast Page • Chico News & Review• Contra Costa Times• Daily Californian• Daily Review Online• Educated Guess • Education News• EScience News• Fairfield Republic• Huffington Post• Inside Bay Area news website• KABC News.• KCBS – San Francisco –

interview w Patrick shields• KGO – San Francisco – interview

w Rena Dorph• KION – Santa Barbara

• KPBS (Public -NPR- San Diego)• KPCC (Public –NPR Pasadena) • KQED – San Francisco –

Interview with Rena Dorph• KSFO – San Francisco- Interview

with Rena Dorph• Long Beach Press Telegram• Los Angeles Times• Los Angeles Times (website)• Marin Independent Journal• Mercury.com• MSNBC, and • Oakland Tribune• Orange County Register (front

page)• Oroville Mercury Register• Pasadena Star• Phsysorg. • Popular Science • Riverside Press Enterprise:

Editorial• Rough and Tumble, • Salinas Californian• San Francisco Chronicle• San Gabriel Valley News – Front

Page• San Jose Mercury News – (Front

Page)• Santa Cruz Sentinel• Santa Cruz Sentinel (front

page- Top story)• School Innovations Advocacy• ScienceNews Daily• state-politics.com• Time Magazine: Education: Get

Schooled• Torrance Daily Breeze• Tri Valley Herald• UPI.COM• Vacaville Reporter• Vallejo Times Herald• Whittier Tribune

• Plus hundreds of websites and blogs!

Full report available on-line:

http://www.cftl.org/documents/2011/StrengtheningScience_full.pdf