They're here! The 2013 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test results have been posted at Nation's Report Card. Before sharing the results, I want to discuss the precautions that were taken to ensure that these results are valid!
The NAEP requires that 70% or more of students in a state participate in the test annually. If the percentage of participants is between 70% and 85%, a bias report is conducted to investigate why students were absent from testing. In addition, students with learning disabilities and those who are English as a Second Language Learners are included in tests. In 2013, all 52 states and districts met these requirements with 93%-100% participation on the test with one exception; Maryland did not meet the minimum requirement for reading assessments.
Overall, the assessment results were promising. In all four categories (4th grade Math, 8th grade Math, 4th grade Reading and 8th grade Reading) student scores demonstrated improvement by 1-2%. This increase denotes the change from the 2011 to 2013 test dates. Overall, since 1990, scores have improved tremendously. 4th grade Math has increased by 28%, 8th grade Math 22%, 4th grade Reading 5% and 8th grade Reading 8%. Maryland, however did not show significant improvement in any area. (My home state of Delaware only demonstrated an increase in 4th grade Math by 3%!)
Regarding specific ethnic groups, increases of students demonstrating proficiency were shown across the board between 2011 and 2013. In 4th grade Math, white students increased by 2%, black students increased 1%, hispanic students increased 2% and asian students increased 2%. Since results were first introduced in 1990, these groups increased by margins as great as 44%! In 8th grade reading, similar results were found. White, black, and hispanic student groups each demonstrated a 1% increase, while asian students' scores jumped by a large 5%.
Reading results were no different. For fourth graders, all ethnic groups increased by 2% with the exception of black students who increased by 1%. For 8th grade Reading, whites increased by 3%, blacks increased by 2%, hispanics increased by 3% and asians increased by 5%.
I don't know much about the NAEP, but I am assuming that a National test does not feel the need to "fudge" tests like states do. Ravitch clearly described all of the short cuts that can be taken (and have been taken) to ensure that a state passes its exam. I am impressed that each state's passing mark is genuine, and am happy to see that results are still climbing since the initiation of the test in 1990.
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