The 2009 National Education Assessment of Progress results have just been released by the US Dept of Eduation.
Compared to 2007, average mathematics scores for public school students in 2009 (tested 4th & 8th grades.)
* Scores increased at both grades in the District of Columbia, Nevada, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont;
* Increased at grade 4 only in Colorado, Kentucky, and Maryland;
* Scores decreased at grade 4 only in Delaware, Indiana, West Virginia, and Wyoming;
* Scores increased at grade 8 only in Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington;
* PA is among 30 states that showed no significant change at either grade.
This lackluster results in PA are in spite of the fact that we gave an historic - $300 million increase in Basic Ed spending last year. The results are certainly very inconsistent with Dr. Zahorchak's claims of great advancements.
This year we will pump an additional $300 million into Basic Education. Plus nearly $700 million in Federal funds will go to advancing the low achievers in PA. Will we once again see no improvement on the national math test?
Are our curriculums and the PSSAs aligned to the same content as the NAEP? Or does the NAEP test material and concepts that have not been taught?
If the curriculum is not aligned to the material on the NAEP, aren't our students being set up to fail?
http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/10/10142009.html