'Minimal Science Knowledge'

The results of a national exam show that very few students have the necessary skills or knowledge to pursue careers in science and technology, reports Christine Armario of the the Associated Press. On the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress exam, only 1 percent of fourth graders and 12th graders and 2 percent of eighth graders scored in the highest group, Armario says. Less than half were assessed as "proficient," and many more showed "minimal science knowledge," she adds. Educators, including US Education Secretary Arne Duncan, expressed dismay and said the results showed students aren't learning science at a rate that will keep the US as an international leader in the field.