Purpose: To provide internationally comparative student achievement data in mathematics and science. The 1999 benchmarking study will allow the U.S. and participating states and school districts to compare the performance of their eighth-graders in math and science against the best in the world. The cohort of eighth-graders who will take TIMSS-R is the same group that took TIMSS as fourth-graders. As fourth-graders, they performed well against the best in the world. Their performance as eighth-graders will provide valuable insights into the performance of our school systems during those critical four years.

NEGP Use: To track progress on Goal 5: "United States students will be first in the world in mathematics and science achievement."

Administered By: TIMSS International Study Center at Boston College and the National Center for Education Statistics.

Last Administered: 1995, at grades 4, 8, and 12; 41 countries participated in at least one grade.

Next Administration: April – May, 1999 at grade 8; at least 40 countries have agreed to participate.

Costs: $150,000 to participate at the state level; $75,000 for school districts.

Options: States and local school districts have the option of participating in the 1999 study to get internationally benchmarked data on the performance of their students in mathematics and science.

Deadline for Participation: States and school districts must commit to participate by September 30, 1998.

Contact: Peggy Kerns Ina Mullis

Office of Intergovernmental TIMSS International Study Center

and Interagency Affairs Boston College

U.S. Dept. of Education 1-877-846-7783

202/401-3049 mullis@bc.edu