Girls and Boys Score Equally in Math

You aren't going to believe this.... but girls perform as well as boys in math!!!

Researchers from UC Berkeley and the University of Wisconsin-Madison published a study in Science magazine, where they looked at the performance of 7 million students from 10 states, using data from the annual math test required by the No Child Left Behind legislation. Although you need login access for the science article, two other articles in the San Francisco Chronicle and US News and World Report talk about the results. The study, funded by the National Science Foundation, looks at students from second through the 11th grade.

Now, for the drum roll - girls perform as well as boys on standardized math tests in every grade, from second through 11th grades, though there is evidence of slightly greater variability in test scores for boys. I'm sure that none of you are surprised, however the study is important, because it provides data that supports what educators all know. So now we know that girls have the capacity to be great at math and science.

Unfortunately there is still evidence that girls are not choosing to study math and science because it isn't cool. The next really important step is to help parents and career counselors understand the remarkable breadth of careers that are available for girls who have a background in math and science. Jobs include not only being a great scientist or a bio-tech entrepreneur, but also careers in policy, law, business and sales. All of these careers are enhanced by a background in math and science.