[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 378 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 378

   Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that strong 
 consideration should be given to the role of science education in the 
   educational accountability system as it works to reauthorize the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 28, 2011

    Mrs. Biggert (for herself and Mr. Holt) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
                               Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that strong 
 consideration should be given to the role of science education in the 
   educational accountability system as it works to reauthorize the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Whereas science is an essential element of a well-rounded education for United 
        States students;
Whereas student proficiency in science underpins the ability of the United 
        States to remain the economic and technical leader of the global 
        marketplace of the 21st century;
Whereas knowledge of the scientific process and the practice of scientific 
        inquiry empowers individuals to better understand the world around them, 
        have stronger critical thinking skills, and become more informed 
        citizens;
Whereas according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 15 of the 20 fastest 
        growing careers of the next decade require proficiency in science;
Whereas the number of workers in science and engineering occupations grew from 
        about 182,000 in 1950 to 5,500,000 in 2007, representing an average 
        annual growth rate of 6.2 percent, nearly 4 times the 1.6 percent growth 
        rate for the overall adult workforce;
Whereas half of the workers in science and engineering occupations earned 
        $70,600 or more in 2007, more than double the median earnings of the 
        overall United States workforce;
Whereas United States student achievement in the sciences is considerable lower 
        than students in many countries worldwide;
Whereas according to the National Center for Educational Statistics, only 34 
        percent of fourth-graders, 30 percent of eighth-graders, and 21 percent 
        of twelfth-graders performed at or above the Proficient level in science 
        in 2009;
Whereas results from the 2009 International Mathematics and Science Study 
        (TIMSS) show the scores of United States fourth and eighth graders were 
        higher than in 1995 in mathematics but not in science;
Whereas the accountability system established by the 2002 amendments to the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act, has had a significant influence 
        on national, State, and local educational policies; and
Whereas science is already required under the Elementary and Secondary Education 
        Act to be tested once in the elementary and middle school grades, but 
        these tests are not included in measures of school accountability: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
strong consideration should be given to the role of science education 
in the educational accountability system as it works to reauthorize the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
                                 <all>