SET FOLLOW-UP4-H YOUTH STAFF RETREATDr. Neil Knobloch, Dr. Kathryn Orvis,

and Megan Paul

BASIC SCIENCE UNDERSTANDING

Many Indiana students do not have a basic understanding of science 30% of all Indiana 4th graders 38% of all Indiana 8th graders One-half of Hispanic 4th graders Two-thirds of Black 4th graders Two-third of Hispanic 8th graders Three-fourth of Black 8th graders

National Assessment of Education Progress. (2005). The Nation’s Report Card. Retrieved from: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

GRADE 4 MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEM (STANDARD 3)

Which event is caused by Earth rotating on its axis?

A. four different seasonsB. the changing of the phases of the moonC. one day and one night in every 24 hoursD. 365 days in a year

GRADE 6 CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE ITEM (STANDARD 3)

Describe the steps required for water in a lake to fall as rain onto an area of land.

Be sure to include the changes that happen to the water in each step.

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RURAL EDUCATION

Students scoring at or above the proficient level in science 4th grade: Rural – 32%

Towns – 27%Cities – 19%

8th grade: Rural – 30%Towns – 28%Cities – 19%

12th grade: Rural – 18% Towns – No measurable difference Cities – 13%

Status of Education in Rural America, http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/ruraled/

GRADUATION RATES

Among the school districts serving the nation’s 50 largest cities: Indianapolis Public Schools rank 49th Graduation rate is 30.5%

Mesa, AZ ranks #1 with 77.1% graduation rate Detroit, MI ranks #50 with 24.9% graduation rate

Cities in Crisis by Dr. Christopher B. Swanson, http://www.americaspromise.org

4-H AND SET

Developing life-long learning Getting kids interested in learning

Connecting what is learned in school to the real world Partner with other formal and informal

educational programs