Contact: Sara Robertson  (202) 822-7823

December 4, 2007 

NEA Underscores Importance of Closing Achievement Gaps in Preparing Students for Global Economy

WASHINGTON  – The results of the 2006 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) were released today by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the United States again rates in the lower half of 57 other participating countries and scored below average in student achievement.  PISA surveys the knowledge and skills of 15-year-olds in science, math and reading. Students from 30 OECD member countries and 27 additional countries and jurisdictions participated in the 2006 PISA.

NEA President Reg Weaver, who also serves as vice president of Education International, said, “Once again, Finland ranks number one in the world in the PISA survey.  Is it a coincidence that Finland has no standardized testing and provides each child with an individualized education plan?  Additionally, in Finland, teachers help to make key decisions regarding budget allocations, scheduling, and curriculum, which influence learning.  This country has designed an education system exclusively focused on helping students excel.”

The 2006 PISA results do not show significant increases in math and science compared to 2003 when the last assessments were performed.  The results, however, do suggest a correlation between equity and quality.   

The study recommends that educational policies should target disadvantaged children and that low performing schools and students would greatly benefit from specialized curricula and additional resources.  “These findings confirm what NEA has known all along—gaps in student achievement must be narrowed in order to level the playing field so that American children will be able to compete in the global economy of the future,” said Weaver.

The results also highlight that all students can benefit from expanded education opportunities such as providing early childhood education and increased learning time.  “No Child Left Behind has forced teachers to teach to the test and narrow curricula, depriving students of the well-rounded education they need,” Weaver said.  “Good science instruction requires teachers and students to become engaged in critical thinking and laboratory activities, which require sustained amounts of time and resources.  These are luxuries that today’s teachers don’t have.  We must provide teachers with the resources and time they need to teach—not test—our students.  Teachers also require ongoing training opportunities so they can keep up with constant innovations in science.” 

One of the major goals of Education International, which represents more than 30 million teachers and education workers, is to promote equality through the development of education.  “This must be made a priority in America so that U.S. children aren’t left paying the price for our education policy’s shortcomings,” Weaver said.

The 2006 Program for International Student Assessment is available at:
http://www.pisa.oecd.org

For more information on NEA’s initiatives regarding gaps in student achievement, please go to http://www.nea.org/achievement/index.html

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.