A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Third International Math and Science Study (TIMSS)
Sparks Interest, Debate

Public interest was high when the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released reports on the achievement and schooling of U.S. students in comparison with students from other countries. The reports on 8th-grade students released in November 1996, 4th-graders in June 1997, and, most recently, 12th-graders in February 1998 were part of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the largest, most comprehensive, and rigorous international comparison of mathematics and science education ever undertaken. Among other things, TIMSS found that U.S. 12th-graders were outperformed by all but two of the other 21 countries.

In response to the tremendous interest, last fall OERI developed Attaining Excellence: A TIMSS Resource Kit. The multimedia Kit was designed to help educators, state and local policymakers, parents, and citizens use the TIMSS findings to improve mathematics and science education in our nation's schools. Included are reports on the achievement of U.S. fourth- and eighth-grade students in an international context. Materials are useful in determining:

• how U.S. math and science education compares with that of other countries;
• how U.S. curricula and expectations for student learning compare with those of other countries; and
• how teaching practices in the United States compare with those in Japan and Germany.

The Kit is divided into four modules that serve as starting points for individuals or groups to examine U.S. education, student achievement, teaching, and curricula. In addition to clear, easy-to-understand reports, the Kit includes videotape presentations, discussion guides, talking points and overhead transparencies, as well as checklists and flyers.

TIMSS Ordering Information

To order Attaining Excellence: A TIMSS Resource Kit ($94; stock #065-000-01013-5), contact the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, PO Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954; telephone: (202) 512-1800; fax: (202) 512-2250. The Kit also may be downloaded from http://nces.ed.gov/TIMSS/timss95/rsrc_pub.asp#resource.

The three principal TIMSS publications are:

Pursuing Excellence: A Study of U.S. Fourth-Grade Mathematics and Science Achievement in International Context. It is part of the TIMSS Resource Kit or may be purchased separately from the Superintendent of Documents ($4.75; stock #065-000-01018-6).

Pursuing Excellence: A Study of U.S. Eighth-Grade Mathematics and Science Teaching, Curriculum, and Achievement in International Context. It is part of the TIMSS Resource Kit or may be purchased separately from the Superintendent of Documents ($9.50; stock #065-000-00959-5).

Pursuing Excellence: A Study of U.S. Twelfth-Grade Mathematics and Science Achievement in International Context. This book should be available from GPO in fall 1998. For up-to-date information on availability, call the TIMSS customer service office on 202-219-1333, or e-mail at timss@ed.gov.

These three books also may be downloaded from http://nces.ed.gov/timss.

In addition, GPO sells separately the four modules that comprise the Kit--Attaining Excellence: TIMSS as a Starting Point To Examine U.S. Education ($37; stock #065-000-01014-3); Student Achievement ($51; stock #065-000-01015-1); Teaching ($31; stock #065-000-01016-0); and Curricula ($33; stock #065-000-01017-8)--as well as 10 other publications and 2 videos in the Kit. For more information on any of these items, as well as on the new assessment module which should be available from GPO in fall 1998, call the TIMSS customer service office on 202-219-1333 or e-mail at timss@ed.gov.

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