Crises += PhDs – Math SATs
Khodayar Akhavi points out that education funding is nowhere near as generous after the 911 crisis as it was after the Sputnik crisis (which may have ended with Gene Cernan’s last footprint on the Moon). Nevertheless, PhD production in the U.S. seems to have picked up after both crises.
The College Board just released figures for the 2007 SATs. I looked at the scores for Math in States where at least 40% of the student population took the exams, and compared the rankings for 1997 (left) to 2007 (right). The rankings are color coded in quintiles, with legend Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Violet (Red the worst). Making double jumps up in the rankings are NC, VA, and VT; double jumps down are MD and ME. Maine should get a bye, since this year it forced 100% of its eligible students to take the exam. IN, TX, and NV should get special mention as the only non-coastal States to have at least 40% SAT participation.
Update: While SC as a State improved, Miss SC Teen has issues with geography & numericity.