There is an urgent need for science teachers in urban schools. Did you know...?
- During the 1999-2000 school year, 45% of biology, 61% of chemistry, and 67% of physics public high school students were instructed by teachers outside of their content areas (The National Academies Report, Rising above the Gathering Storm, 2007).
- Approximately 42% and 36% of public high schools had vacancies in life and physical sciences respectively, and 21% and 28% of these vacancies remained a year later (Marvel, et al., 2007).
- The 2003 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study Report data show that Grade 8, U.S. performance in science lags behind 17 other countries.
- Students in high-poverty schools are twice as likely as their suburban peers to have teachers not licensed in the appropriate science content. In addition, on average, urban schools lose 20% of faculty yearly.
- The Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide List indicates that 47 of 50 states have a serious shortage of highly-qualified science teachers at the secondary level, with the greatest need in urban schools.