NOTES ABOUT THE 1999 FINDINGS: CALIFORNIA
These pages present highlights for your state from the 1999 National Education Goals Report and the companion 1999 Data Volume. The annual Goals Report uses 27 national and 34 state-level indicators to measure progress made toward the eight National Education Goals since 1990, when the Goals were established.
This fact sheet summarizes your state’s progress in key educational areas during the 1990s. Please note the following points:
Goal 3: Student Achievement and Citizenship
Goal 1: Ready to Learn
Goal 2: School Completion
Goal 3: Student Achievement and Citizenship
Goal 5: Mathematics and Science
7. Types of information presented: Four categories of information are provided for your state:
a. Highest-Performing States are states that have performed well in comparison to others. This does not mean that the Goals Panel considers performance in these states to be as high as it should be in order to meet the Goal. It is simply a means of recognizing those states that are doing particularly well relative to others, and that are closest to achieving the Goal by this measure of progress.
b. Most-Improved States are those that made the greatest improvements over time. These states may not yet be among the highest-performing states in the nation, but they were the most successful at pushing their performance in the right direction. "Most-improved" does not necessarily mean that the Goals Panel considers the amount of progress made to be sufficient. It is simply a means of recognizing those states that have made the greatest progress toward the Goal by this measure.
c. Areas of Improvement lists each area in which your state’s performance has improved, compared to where it stood at the beginning of the decade.
d. Areas of Decline lists each area in which your state’s performance has declined, compared to where it stood at the beginning of the decade.
Copies of both reports are available on the Goals Panel’s Web site, at www.negp.gov
CALIFORNIA – Data Highlights
1999 National Education Goals Report
I. HIGHEST-PERFORMING
California placed among the highest-performing states in the nation on 9 measures of progress during the 1990s:
Goal 1: Ready to Learn
1. the percentage of infants born at low birthweight (6%);
Goal 4: Teacher Education and Professional Development
2. the percentage of public school teachers reporting that they participated in in-service or professional development programs (94%);
3. the percentage of public school teachers with training to teach limited English proficient students (64%);
4. the percentage of public school teachers who report that they received support from a master or mentor teacher during their first year of teaching (35%);
Goal 5: Mathematics and Science
5. the percentage of public school 8th graders whose mathematics teachers report that they have students work in small groups or with a partner at least once a week (79%);
Goal 6: Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning
6. the percentage of U.S. citizens who reported that they voted (61%);
7. the percentage of high school graduates who immediately enrolled in college in any state (66%);
Goal 7: Safe, Disciplined, and Alcohol- and Drug-free Schools
8. the percentage of public school teachers reporting that they were threatened or physically attacked by a student from their school (9%); and
Goal 8: Parental Participation
9. the percentage of public school principals reporting that the parent associations in their schools have influence on school policy (36%).
II. MOST-IMPROVED
California placed among the most-improved states in the nation on 3 measures of progress during the 1990s:
Goal 2: School Completion
Goal 6: Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning
2. increasing the percentage of high school graduates who immediately enroll in college; and
Goal 8: Parental Participation
3. reducing the percentage of public high school principals reporting that lack of parental involvement in their schools is a serious problem.
III. AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT
California improved on 11 measures of progress toward the Goals during the 1990s:
Goal 1: Ready to Learn
1. California increased the percentage of mothers who received early prenatal care (from 72% in 1990, to 82% in 1997).
3- to 5-year-olds in 1998).
Goal 2: School Completion
24-year-olds (from 77% in 1990, to 81% in 1997).
Goal 3: Student Achievement and Citizenship
4. California increased the percentage of public school 8th graders who were proficient in mathematics (from 12% in 1990, to 17% in 1996).
5. California increased the number of Advanced Placement examinations receiving grades high enough to qualify students for college credit. (The number of AP exams with grades of 3 or higher increased from 90 per 1,000 11th and 12th graders in 1991, to 137 per 1,000 11th and 12th graders in 1999.)
Goal 4: Teacher Education and Professional Development
6. California increased the percentage of public school teachers who reported that they received support from a master or mentor teacher during their first year of teaching (from 31% in 1991, to 35% in 1994).
Goal 5: Mathematics and Science
7. California increased the proportion of degrees earned by all students that were awarded in mathematics and science (from 43% in 1991, to 47% in 1996).
8. California increased the proportion of degrees earned by minority students that were awarded in mathematics and science (from 43% in 1991, to 45% in 1996).
9. California increased the proportion of degrees earned by female students that were awarded in mathematics and science (from 38% in 1991, to 44% in 1996).
Goal 6: Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning
10. California increased the percentage of high school graduates who immediately enrolled in college in any state (from 50% in 1992, to 66% in 1996).
Goal 8: Parental Participation
11. California reduced the percentage of public school principals reporting that lack of parental involvement in their schools is a serious problem (from 20% in 1991, to 11% in 1994).
IV. AREAS OF DECLINE
On no measure of progress has California’s performance declined.
This information may be viewed on-line: www.negp.gov/issues/publication/99statefact/ca.htm