Science Report Roundup

Science Education

By Liana Loewus — March 21, 2017 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

When parents of high school students are given guidance on how to talk about the importance of science and math, their children are more likely to score well on a STEM standardized test and, years later, pursue a STEM career, finds a study from the University of Virginia and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In the study, published in the January Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, parents of 180 11th and 12th graders in Wisconsin were randomly assigned to either no intervention, or to receive two brochures and a link to a website explaining how math and science are useful in everyday life and careers and encouraging them to share the information with their children.

Five years later, researchers found that students—now on average 20 years old—whose parents received the STEM brochures scored a statistically significant 12 percentile points higher on the math and science portions of the ACT than their peers in the control group. They also reported taking more STEM courses in college and were more likely to have career aspirations in STEM.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the March 22, 2017 edition of Education Week as Science Education

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Rethinking STEM Assessment: Strategies for Administrators
School and district leaders will explore strategies to enhance STEM assessment practices across their district, within schools and classrooms.
Content provided by Project Lead The Way
Federal Webinar Keeping Up with the Trump Administration's Latest K-12 Moves: Subscriber-Exclusive Quick Hit
EdWeek subscribers, join this 30-minute webinar to find out what the latest federal policy changes mean for K-12 education.
Artificial Intelligence Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: Math & Technology: Finding the Recipe for Student Success
How should we balance AI & math instruction? Join our discussion on preparing future-ready students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Science From Our Research Center Students Don't Think Cellphones Distract Them From Learning STEM. Teachers Disagree
New surveys of teens and teachers show how far apart the two groups are on this issue.
4 min read
A teacher and student have opposite perspectives on cellphone use in school.
Danny Allison for Education Week
Science From Our Research Center Want to Motivate Students in STEM? The Way You Explain Things Matters
How teachers explain tricky math and science concepts can affect students' motivation in their STEM classes.
7 min read
Silhouetted figures water a blooming STEM flower.
Danny Allison for Education Week
Science Q&A Teachers, Parents, or Peers: Who Motivates Students Most to Pursue STEM?
Encouragement from adults—like teachers, school counselors, and parents—is crucial for motivating students in STEM.
4 min read
A group of students follows their role models towards a bright STEM future.
Danny Allison for Education Week
Science Girls Had Nearly Closed the STEM Gap With Boys. It’s Opening Again
The gap between girls and boys in STEM subjects had almost closed pre-pandemic. It's opening again.
5 min read
A student attends a math lesson during class at Mount Vernon Community School, in Alexandria, Va., on May 1, 2024.
A student works on a math lesson during class at Mount Vernon Community School, in Alexandria, Va., on May 1, 2024.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP