IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 378 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that strong consider-
ation should be given to the role of science education in the educational 
accountability system as it works to reauthorize the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 28, 2011 
Mrs. BIGGERT (for herself and Mr. HOLT) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
strong consideration should be given to the role of science 
education in the educational accountability system as 
it works to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act. 
Whereas science is an essential element of a well-rounded 
education for United States students; 
Whereas student proficiency in science underpins the ability 
of the United States to remain the economic and tech-
nical leader of the global marketplace of the 21st century; 
Whereas knowledge of the scientific process and the practice 
of scientific inquiry empowers individuals to better under-
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•HRES 378 IH 
stand the world around them, have stronger critical 
thinking skills, and become more informed citizens; 
Whereas according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 15 of 
the 20 fastest growing careers of the next decade require 
proficiency in science; 
Whereas the number of workers in science and engineering 
occupations grew from about 182,000 in 1950 to 
5,500,000 in 2007, representing an average annual 
growth rate of 6.2 percent, nearly 4 times the 1.6 percent 
growth rate for the overall adult workforce; 
Whereas half of the workers in science and engineering occu-
pations earned $70,600 or more in 2007, more than dou-
ble the median earnings of the overall United States 
workforce; 
Whereas United States student achievement in the sciences 
is considerable lower than students in many countries 
worldwide; 
Whereas according to the National Center for Educational 
Statistics, only 34 percent of fourth-graders, 30 percent 
of eighth-graders, and 21 percent of twelfth-graders per-
formed at or above the Proficient level in science in 2009; 
Whereas results from the 2009 International Mathematics 
and Science Study (TIMSS) show the scores of United 
States fourth and eighth graders were higher than in 
1995 in mathematics but not in science; 
Whereas the accountability system established by the 2002 
amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act, has had a significant influence on national, State, 
and local educational policies; and 
Whereas science is already required under the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act to be tested once in the el-
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•HRES 378 IH 
ementary and middle school grades, but these tests are 
not included in measures of school accountability: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that strong consideration should be given to 
the role of science education in the educational account-
ability system as it works to reauthorize the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act. 
Æ 
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