Concerns over science education in
the United States continue to grow due
to the increasing global demands and
competitiveness for careers in science
and technology. In addition, current
education policy will be scrutinized
more rigorously as the Obama
administration begins to implement
their vision of public education, which
includes recruiting new teachers and
rewarding effective teachers. The
effectiveness of science teachers
is often measured by the success
of the students. In order to ensure
student success in science, research
about how students learn science
and how teachers should be teaching
science must be taken into account
by policy makers. Accomplishing
the goal of improving student science
achievement in the United States is
necessary in order to increase overall
science literacy amongst the U.S.
population and ensure preparedness
for the growing science and technology
demands of the 21st century.