Science Education Reform for All (SERA)

Executive Summary

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Table 1: Gaps in Science Performance between White and Minority Students
Grade 4 -- Science Disparities (in percentage points) between White and minority students who met the Goals Panel's performance standard in science   1996 American Indian/Alaskan Native 11 Black 30 Hispanic 28 Disparities (in percentage points) between males and females   1996 Females < males 4 ns Grade 8 -- Science Disparities (in percentage points) between White and minority students who met the Goals Panel's performance standard in science   1996 American Indian/Alaskan Native 13 Black 32 Hispanic 26	Disparities (in percentage points) between males and females   1996 Females < males 4 Grade 12 -- Science Disparities (in percentage points) between White and minority students who met the Goals Panel's performance standard in science   1996 American Indian/Alaskan Native 17 Black 23 Hispanic 20 Disparities (in percentage points) between males and females   1996 Females < males 8
In 1996, the proportions of white and minority students who met the Goals Panel's performance standard in science differed by 11 to 32 percentage points. For example, the difference between the percentages of white and Black 4th grade students who met the standard in science was 30 percentage points. Source: National Educational Goals Panel: The National Education Goals Report: Building a Nation of Learners 1997. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, p. 46.

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