FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCTOBER 14, 2009
For More Information Contact:Jane Briggs, Jonathan Burman or Tom Dunn at (518) 474-1201Internet:http://www.nysed.gov
Commissioner Steiner’s Statement onNew York NAEP performance in Mathematics
The Board of Regents and I are committed to providing assessments thataccurately measure the knowledge and skills our students need to be fully prepared for college, succeed in the global economy, and enjoy a lifetime of learning and productivecitizenship.As such, the New York State NAEP scores in mathematics, released today, areof great concern to the Board of Regents and to me. These results show that New York(and the nation) did not show any statistically significant gain between 2007 and 2009.We are particularly concerned by the tragically stubborn gaps that separate theachievement of too many of our African-American students, Hispanic students, low-income students, English Language Learners, and students with disabilities from their peers.A few details:On NAEP, the State’s average scale score in 4th grade math declined slightlyfrom 243 to 241. The average score in 8
th
grade math increased only slightly from 280to 283. At the same time, the percentage of students who scored proficient or above in4
th
grade math declined from 43 to 40 percent and in 8
th
grade math increased from 31to 34 percent.We are struck by the contrast between results on the NAEP and on New YorkState’s own math tests. Our state tests show gains during that same two-year period.The average scale score in 4
th
grade math increased from 680 to 689. The averagescore in 8
th
grade math increased from 657 to 675. At the same time, the percentage of students who scored proficient or above in 4
th
grade math increased from 80 to 87percent and in 8
th
grade math increased from 59 to 80 percent.Chancellor Tisch has said publicly that New York’s learning standards must beraised. To ensure that New York’s testing program is comprehensive, rigorous, andfocused on critical knowledge and skills, we will take the following actions:
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