Arkansas reading skills improve, but trail U.S. average

The reading skills among Arkansas 8th graders have improved between 2013 and 1998, but scores still lag the national average and more than 40% of first-year college and university students in Arkansas require reading remediation courses.

Arkansas' eighth-grade reading score was 262 out of a possible 500, up 3% compared to 2012. The national average was 266. The scores result from tests coordinated and administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress program.

The U.S. Department of Education conducts the national assessment every two years. In Arkansas, around 2,700 students in grades four and eight at 160 school districts were assessed in math and reading, according to the Arkansas Department of Education.

The Arkansas Department of Education statement included the following assessment of the test results.
• In addition to an overall increase in these scores, more students (3%) moved from the proficient to the advanced achievement level. This shift upward also was seen among the other levels (below basic, basic and proficient).

• Arkansas' fourth-grade reading and math scores, in addition to eighth-grade math scores, did not show significant movement. The fourth-grade math and reading scores did reflect a similar movement upward among achievement levels.

• Arkansas was one of 14 areas (including states, the District of Columbia and Department of Defense Schools) to show significant gains in eighth-grade reading. 

"The increase in Arkansas' eighth-grade reading scores can be attributed to the hard work of our teachers," Arkansas Department of Education Commissioner Dr. Tom Kimbrell said in the statement. "There is still work to do, though, as we strive to increase our scores among other states in the nation."

Oklahoma also posted a 262 score, with Missouri 8th graders scoring 267. Texas and Tennessee were at 264 and 265, respectively.

NATIONAL COMPARISON
The five states with the highest reading scores were:
Massachusetts: 277
New Jersey: 276
Connecticut: (tie): 274
New Hampshire (tie): 274
Vermont (tie): 274

The five states with the lowest reading scores were:
Mississippi: 253
New Mexico: 256
Alabama: (tie): 257
Louisiana (tie): 257
West Virginia (tie): 257

“In summary, our nation’s eighth-graders are performing at the highest level ever in both mathematics and reading.  It is particularly interesting to note that scores for all five percentile levels and most racial/ethnic groups increased in eighth-grade reading since 2011,” noted a report from the National Center for Education Statistics. “When we compare the 2013 results to the initial assessment in 1992, scores increased at fourth- and eighth-grade for both gender and all reportable racial/ethnic groups.”

REMEDIATION
The Arkansas 8th- and 4th-grade reading tests show improvements, with 8th grade scores rising from 256 in 1998 to 262 in 2013. The 4th grade scores are up from 211 in 1992 to 219 in 2013.

However, college remediation rates for reading skills have not seen significant changes in the years between 2006 and 2010, according to figures provided by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.

Following are the percentage of first-year students who require reading remediation at Arkansas’ four-year and two-year institutions.
2010
Four-year universities: 18.9%
Two-year colleges: 28%
Total: 43.4%

2009
Four-year universities: 21.5%
Two-year colleges: 29.1%
Total: 40.5%

2008
Four-year universities: 20.5%
Two-year colleges: 27.1%
Total: 39.4%

2007
Four-year universities: 21.1%
Two-year colleges: 28.6%
Total: 42%

2006
Four-year universities: 20.2%
Two-year colleges: 28.6%
Total: 45.5%

“Over the last five years, the number of students assigned to remedial coursework has increased by 243 students (4.8 percent) at four-year institutions. However, the number of students assigned to remediation has increased by 1,561 students (31.9 percent) at two-year institutions and by 1,804 students (18.2 percent) at all public institutions,” noted the December 2011 remediation report from the ADHE.