1. © 2003 Michigan State University The Level Playing Field: An American Myth William H. Schmidt Michigan State University October 8, 2003 Archived Information

2. © 2003 Michigan State University A Typical TIMSS Geometry Item

3. © 2003 Michigan State University Relationship between Parents’ Education and Student Achievement

4. © 2003 Michigan State University Relationship between Parents’ Education and Student Achievement

5. © 2003 Michigan State University Relationship Between Mostly Algebra Instruction and Student Achievement

6. © 2003 Michigan State University Relationship between Curriculum, SES, & Student Learning

7. © 2003 Michigan State University High Achieving Countries’ Mathematics Standard

8. © 2003 Michigan State University 21 States’ Mathematics Standards

9. © 2003 Michigan State University Mathematics is cumulative.  Properly done, the topics in each year depend on the topics covered in previous years.  When one fails to take this cumulative nature into account, the study of mathematics degenerates into a relatively meaningless list-making and memorization of unconnected factoids – something particularly damaging for weaker students. James Milgram, Professor of Mathematics, Stanford University MSU Education Policy Forum, Washington, DC, June, 2003

10. © 2003 Michigan State University Percent (standard error) of U.S. 8 th Grade Students in Schools Offering Each Type of Mathematics Course

11. © 2003 Michigan State University Percent of Students Taking Algebra I for the First Time

12. © 2003 Michigan State University Minimal Standards? One course in each: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics Algebra II/Biology/Chemistry/Physics Less than 30 % of ALL Students Less than 5 % of Voc/Tech Students About 15 % of General Academic Students About 40 % of College Preparatory Students

13. © 2003 Michigan State University Minimal Standards? One course in each: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics Algebra II/Biology/Chemistry/Physics Less than 20 % of ALL Black Students Less than 5 % of Black Voc/Tech Students About 11 % of Black General Academic Students About 32 % of Black College Preparatory Students

14. © 2003 Michigan State University College Preparatory Standards? One course in each: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics Pre-calculus/Biology/Chemistry/Physics Less than 20 % of ALL Students Less than 2 % of Voc/Tech Students About 10 % of General Academic Students About 30 % of College Preparatory Students

15. © 2003 Michigan State University Percent of Teachers Indicating That They are Well-Prepared Academically to Teach 12 Basic Mathematics Topics