This report uses statistics to examine current conditions and changes over time in education activities and outcomes for different racial/ethnic groups in the United States. This report shows that over time, students in the racial/ethnic groups of White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska…

Affirmative action and academic policy initiatives can alter only minimally the proportion of women among holders of scientific and quantitative degrees. Women's underrepresentation in such fields stems from the educational and social expectations they face throughout their schooling and their personal lives. (GC)

This paper is an overview of some points made at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association in April of 1987. Gender effects were computed on 82 nationally standardized tests designed to determine precocity among youth. The effect sizes ranged from a magnitude of 0.50 (favoring females) for spelling in grade 12 on the…

Presents results of a diagnostic analysis of mathematics and science achievement data for Black students collected by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Identifies the taxonomic level (knowledge, skills, comprehension, application, and analysis) and content area of exercises on which Black students perform below the national average.…

Toy playing habits, spatial abilities, and science and mathematics achievement of children aged 3 through 13 appear to be sex typed. Males play with a wider variety of toys, exhibit superior spatial skills, and maintain greater science and mathematics achievement scores than females. (PS)

This article provides a critical look into national trends of the achievement gaps between Whites and Blacks and between Whites and Hispanics over the last 3 decades based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress mathematics assessments. It examines multiple facets of inequity underlying the racial and ethnic achievement gaps from 3…

Specific teaching strategies for helping talented girls in mathematics are discussed. These include: creating a supportive learning environment; providing single-sex learning opportunities in mathematics and appealing to the strengths of females as motivators; using activities that are relevant to girls; creating a challenging curriculum; and…

This study uses The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) data to compare students from Hong Kong with students from the US on the mathematics achievement and on a series of family background factors such as mothers' expectations, parental education, presence of study aids, living with different family members, and…

Discusses societal changes that may have contributed to increasing average achievement levels (especially in mathematics) for Black students. Considers the long-term beneficial effects of school desegregation. (GC)