What Does TIMSS 99 Data Tell District 203?

• All of District 203 students are offered the opportunity to gain an advanced understanding of scientific and mathematical concepts.
• Curriculum and instruction does impact student achievement.
• Professional development of teaching staff contributes to quality of instruction.

How Will District 203 Use The TIMSS 99?

• Identify potential areas/concepts in need of improvement
• Enhance the curriculum
• Further educate and enable teachers to enhance teaching strategies

The TIMSS 99 report provides 5 categories of data: 1. Student achievement 2. Student background and attitude about mathematics and science 3. Teacher background and instructional practice 4. School context for learning and instruction and 5. Curriculum description, assessment practice and support.

Analyzing the data from these 5 categories will assist Dist. 203 in identifying potential areas/concepts in need of improvement in mathematics and science curriculum and instruction as well as discovering means to enhance the mathematics and science curriculum and instruction. Currently Dist. 203 is beginning a K-12 Science Curriculum Review. This data will be invaluable in this curriculum development process. Further the TIMSS 99 data can serve to educate and enable teachers to enhance teaching strategies.

Another venue for the TIMSS 99 results is to involve staff in the formulating of inquiry questions about achievement, curriculum, instruction, etc.

• Is there a difference in achievement when we look at gender?
• What is the correlation between this class’s achievement and the fact that the early reading intervention program, Project Leap, began when these students were in first grade?
• In what ways would it be beneficial to collaborate with Illinois, City of Chicago, and First In The World?

This data is the beginning of an exciting exploration into how District 203 can continue to improve to provide a world class education to all students. In the words of Michael Fullen and Andy Hargraves in Meaning of Educational Change - “The single most distinguishing characteristic of the best professionals in any field is that they consistently strive for better results, and are always learning to be more effective,from whatever source they can find”