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

In response to the memorandum from the President, the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation formed an interagency working group comprised of staff experienced in the areas under review. Officials of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Domestic Policy Council, and the Office of Management and Budget provided oversight.

Consistent with the directive, the interagency group immediately began a review of current Federal efforts in mathematics and science education with particular attention to mathematics education in kindergarten through eighth-grade. (See Appendix 4 for a summary of relevant programs in the two agencies.) In addition, as the memorandum instructed, the interagency group drew on research and input from educators and professional organizations, by reaching out to the broader mathematics and education community for advice and guidance. (See Appendix 5 for a summary of these outreach efforts, including a list of organizations with which the working group consulted.) The interagency group also consulted with appropriate staff in other agencies that have, or are interested in establishing, activities in elementary and secondary-level mathematics or science education. (See Appendix 6 for a list of the agencies consulted and a summary of their input.)

Early in its deliberations, the working group recognized the importance of developing an appropriate focus for the action strategy. Based on the results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the desire that students have proper preparation for the President's proposed national voluntary test in mathematics, the group concluded that in the near term, the action strategy should focus on mathematics in the middle grades (5-8). Thus, while the action strategy is designed to improve achievement in science and mathematics at all grade levels, it addresses that goal by concentrating on improving achievement in middle school mathematics first. To be fully effective in achieving the long term goals, this effort must broaden to include mathematics and science in all grades once the immediate concerns for mathematics in grades 5-8 have been addressed.

Participants in the Interagency Process

Secretary Richard Riley of the Department of Education and Neal Lane, Director of the National Science Foundation convened the interagency working group. Their acting deputies, Marshall Smith and Joseph Bordogna, respectively, provided guidance through regular interaction with the working group, as did Luther Williams, Assistant Director for Education and Human Resources at the National Science Foundation.

Several members of the staff of the Executive Office of the President were instrumental in the work of the interagency group, including: Michael Cohen, Domestic Policy Council; Clifford Gabriel, Office of Science and Technology Policy; Mary Cassell and Anne Tenney, Office of Management and Budget; and Daniel Goroff, Office of Science and Technology Policy. William Kincaid of the Domestic Policy Council and Daryl Chubin of the Office of Science and Technology Policy were particularly important to developing the action strategy and to keeping the working group on track.

Members of the Working Group

Co-Chairs

Thomas M. Corwin Director, Division of Elementary,   Secondary, and Vocational Analysis Budget Service Department of Education

Judith Sunley Assistant to the Director for   Science Policy and Planning National Science Foundation

Committee Members

Carol Chelemer Office of Educational Research   and Improvement Department of Education	Diane Spresser Program Director, Teacher Enhancement   (Mathematics) National Science Foundation
Margaret Cozzens Director Division of Elementary, Secondary,   and Informal Education National Science Foundation	Robert Stonehill Director, State and Local Services Division Office of Educational Research   and Improvement Department of Education
Eric Hamilton Program Director, Educational System Reform National Science Foundation	Larry Suter Acting Director, Division of Research,   Evaluation, and Communication National Science Foundation
Christine Jackson Senior Program Officer, Eisenhower   Professional Development Program Department of Education (replaced Clare Banwart 4/97)	Judy Wurtzel Director of the Mathematics Initiative Office of the Acting Deputy Secretary Department of Education
Deborah Spitz Program Analyst Office of the Undersecretary Department of Education

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[Appendix 2]

[Appendix 4]