The selective effect of participation in Georgia middle schools agricultural education curriculum on student performance in the CRCT science scores

Abstract

“As a part of the overall educational program, agriculture education is designed to provide students with competencies to make them aware of and prepared for the world of work. Agriculture is a dynamic, rapidly changing industry that has an exciting future” (Georgia Department of Education, b, 2005-2007, ¶1). To determine the effect that Agricultural Education curriculum has in middle schools student performance in science, this descriptive study compared science knowledge among middle school students in Georgia who were enrolled in schools with and without Agricultural Education programs. To quantify the science knowledge and skills of students, the researchers used the state’s annual Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) (science), mandatory for all students in middle schools. This quantitative study evaluated the relationship between fifty-one Georgia middle schools with an agricultural education curriculum versus fifty-one without an agricultural education curriculum. The post-test evaluation tool focused on science standards as measured by the annual CRCT. The researcher observed that middle school science and agriculture education standards are similar. This research was conducted to determine the extent to which agricultural education curriculum in Georgia middle schools enhance student performance on an annual science comprehension test.