兰德-学生对数学失去兴趣-美国青年小组的调查结果（英）

HEATHER L. SCHWARTZ, ROBERT BOZICK, MELISSA KAY DILIBERTI, SARAH OHLSStudents Lose Interest in MathFindings from the American Youth PanelStudents in the United States still have not recovered to pre–coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic math and reading levels. For example, the average math scores of 8th graders in 2024, published by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, were eight points lower than in 2019 (The Nation’s Report Card, undated). Furthermore, the lowest-performing students performed worse in 2024 than in 2022, after the pandemic dissipated (The Nation’s Report Card, undated). Additionally, students are now absent from school at substantially higher rates than before the COVID-19 pandemic, further complicating recovery efforts (Dee, 2024).These trends raise urgent questions about the state of student engagement in the classroom and areas in which policymakers and practitioners might be able to intervene. This report offers one possible explanation for the slow post-pandemic recovery: Students are frequently bored with math. To help inform possible solutions for math curriculum developers, school district leaders, math teachers, and math specialists, this report presents new survey data on middle school and high school students’ perceptions of their math class experiences. Although students experiencing bore-dom is not unique to math, this core academic subject is our focus in this report and on which we present new data on student attitudes.This report is based on data from RAND’s newly established American Youth Panel (AYP). The AYP is a probability sample–based panel of youths who regularly complete surveys via email and text message about their attitudes, behaviors, experiences in school, and other issues affecting their lives. At the time of this writing, the panel is made up of 1,138 youths ages 12 to 21, and we are recruiting an additional 1,000 youths to join the panel in spring 2025.When youths first enrolled in the panel, they filled out a baseline empanelment survey in which they provided demographic and contact information and answered a battery of questions about their interest, con-fidence, comprehension, supports, and enjoyment in math (in summer or fall 2024).1 Following their empan-elment, the youths were invited to take their first full survey in fall 2024. In total, 724 AYP members completed KEY FINDINGS ■ About one-half of middle and high school students reported losing interest during their math lessons about half or more of the time. ■ The students who are the most likely to maintain interest in math are the same ones who comprehend math, feel supported in math, are confident in their ability to do well in math, enjoy math, believe in the need to learn math, and see themselves as a math person. ■ The students who are the most prone to disengage in math les-sons want fewer online activities and more real-world applications in their math classes.Research Report PanelAmerican YouthRAND2the fall 20