Beyond Description of the Problems: Directions for Research on Diversity and Equity Issues in K-12 Mathematics and Science Education

What can be learned when some of America’s best educational researchers get together with a focus on closing the achievement gap in K-12 mathematics and science education?

This report from the 2000 National Institute of Science Education (NISE) Forum is both a synthesis of the thinking presented at the annual meeting and an overview of directions for future research. Ideas from Elizabeth Fennema, Edmund Gordon, Vinetta Jones, Kent McGuire, Jeannie Oakes, and other prominent researchers and educators dovetail into a number of clear research directions.

This report discusses the need to detail persistent inequities in access to courses and teachers, understand more deeply differences in how students learn and the implications for curriculum and instruction, identify effective programs and learn how to scale them up, equip teachers to work effectively with diverse learners, improve research methods, and improve the dissemination of existing research.

The report also presents keynote and closing addresses and summarizes panelists’ papers and discussants’ comments.