New national test results measure student math, reading skills

Results released Wednesday (March 24) show mixed results on math and reading scores for Arkansas’ fourth- and eight-grade students.

The National Assessment Governing Board and the U.S. Department of Education test a sample of students nationwide every two years to determine math and reading proficiency. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exams was administered in the spring semester of 2009 to a sample of Arkansas students of about 3,000 each in the fourth and eighth grades attending more than 300 Arkansas schools, according to a statement from the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE). Nationally, 178,000 fourth graders and 160,900 eighth graders took the NAEP Reading exams — which is known as The Nation’s Report Card.

Following are the Arkansas results from the previous three exam cycles.
• 4th grade
Math
2009: 238 (National average, 239)
2007: 238 (National average, 239)
2005: 236 (National average, 237)

Reading
2009: 216 (National average, 220)
2007: 217 (National average, 220)
2005: 217 (National average, 217)

• 8th grade
Math
2009: 276 (National average, 282)
2007: 274 (National average, 280)
2005: 272 (National average, 278)

Reading
2009: 258 (National average, 262)
2007: 258 (National average, 261)
2005: 258 (National average, 260)

The scores show gains or no change in all areas except for a reading exam decline among the fourth-grade sample. The ADE statement suggests that the 216 score is not considered “statistically different” from the average of 217 in 2007.

“While we are pleased that we maintained our performance in reading on the NAEP assessments at these two grade levels, we will continue to look for ways to improve performance,” Dr. Tom W. Kimbrell, Arkansas Commissioner of Education, said in the statement.

Eighth-graders did see a gain in the percentage of students scoring at or above “proficient” levels in math, with 27% in 2009, 24% in 2007 and 22% in 2005. In reading, 27% of eighth-graders scored at or above the proficient level in 2009, compared to 25% in 2007 and 26% in 2005.