The Pearson Foundation/CCSSO International Conference on Math and Science Education

In the spring of 2008, the Council of Chief State School Officers and the Pearson Foundation together welcomed educators from 13 countries and six continents to Singapore for the inaugural Pearson Foundation/CCSSO International Conference on Education. The first gathering, focused specifically on science and mathematics, was convened deliberately in Singapore in the hope that this worldwide delegation could learn from Singapore’s success in these disciplines.

In November, 2008 we released Report and Recommendations for Education Policy Leaders, which identifies key factors in Singapore’s success in teaching science and mathematics and recommends that educators around the world extend and develop these practices in their school systems. This report is the first in a series of annual reports from CCSSO and The Pearson Foundation that will present shared conclusions of CCSSO members from around the world.

Report and Recommendations for Education Policy Leaders documents the conclusions from the International Conference on Science and Mathematics Education. The report cites specifically Singapore’s country-wide investment in teachers; the development of their administrative leadership; and the educational system’s adoption of innovative core curriculum designed to foster students’ creativity and independent thinking.

At the conference, small working teams presented and shared best practices from their countries; learning from each other ways in which they can improve their own local efforts; and—as the conference concluded—making recommendations now shared with an even broader group about methods, practice, and policy in math and science education.

Delegates from countries including Brazil, Canada, England, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States met and:

  • Presented their educational system’s successful approach to mathematics education;
  • Shared their responses and practices with other delegates who offer similar presentations based on their own educational systems’ experiences;
  • Met with world experts to further refine and extend their approaches;
  • Worked with the Pearson Foundation, and with the Council of Chief State School Officers, to document these proceedings and distribute the results in print and online materials, which will be published collaboratively by the Pearson Foundation and the CCSSO and shared worldwide.

This group had the unique opportunity to discuss the most current research around math and science education including the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results, an international science assessment survey. In addition, delegates toured several innovative sites while in Singapore including the Crescent City Girls School and the National Institute of Education—the only teacher training facility in Singapore.

In 2009, the Pearson Foundation/CCSSO International Conference on Education will be held in Finland to focus specifically on teacher quality and technological innovation. More information about this gathering will be announced early in the new year.