According to NAEP, Kentucky is one of three states that had a statistically significant increase in 4th-grade reading scores from 2007 to 2009. Kentucky is also one of nine states that had a statistically significant increase in 8th-grade reading scores from 2007 to 2009. Kentucky is the only state in the nation to report increases in both 4th- and 8th-grade reading scores.
Scale scores for Kentucky 4th and 8th graders in 2009 surpassed the national average. The NAEP grading scale ranges from 0 to 500.
Students' performance on NAEP fits into one of four categories: Below Basic, Basic, Proficient or Advanced. In Kentucky, in reading, 72 percent of 4th graders and 79 percent of 8th graders scored at the Basic level or above. Since 1998, Kentucky's results have remained steady, with minor gains and losses, but the 2009 results in Kentucky have significantly increased above the national average. Since 1998, Kentucky’s 4th graders have gained 8 points on the NAEP reading assessment, and 8th graders have gained 5 points. 2003 marked the first year NAEP was administered under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. Under NCLB, states applying for Title I funds must indicate that they plan to participate in NAEP. In 2009, all 50 states, along with the District of Columbia and Department of Defense schools, participated in the NAEP reading and mathematics assessments.
NAEP reports data based on whether accommodations were allowed in the testing process, meaning that students with disabilities and those considered to have limited English proficiency (LEP) can have special assistance in order to complete the test. Certain students may be excluded from the test based on teacher recommendations using students’ Individual Education Plans (IEPs). NAEP does not allow all the accommodations Kentucky students need and are allowed on the state's tests. Kentucky also offers an alternate assessment program for those students with the most severe disabilities, and NAEP does not offer an alternate assessment.
For more than 40 years, NAEP has been the country’s only nationally representative and continuing survey of students’ educational achievement. The assessment is authorized by Congress, directed by NCES and developed by Educational Testing Service of Princeton, New Jersey. Westat, Inc. of Rockville, Maryland, conducts sample selection and data collection.
NAEP protects the confidentiality of students, teachers and schools that participate by not reporting individual student, teacher or school data. NAEP provides results for major demographic groups, and states that meet NAEP reporting criteria are able to compare their results with both national results and the results of other states.
4 comments:
Dear Mr Daye,
I just read these posts. Interesting. I'm not sure Jack Hayes says that much, though.
Just on the side, do you think disciplinary action would be taken against the teacher who reported what Jack Hayes was alleged to have said?
Thanks for answering these postings.
Disciplinary?
Well....I'm not sure how that would happen. In this case, the commenter was anonymous, so I could not confirm who is commenting if I wanted to - which I don't - and wouldn't short of a subpoena. It might be possible for me to identify a general source of comments (like, from FCPS or KDE or wherever...) if I had to, but I have absolutely no interest in that either. I do police style a bit, but otherwise, folks can say what they want and are responsible for what they say.
People are starting to ask questions about the NAEP scores.
Imagine, even though NCLB put extreme pressure on reading, Kentucky is the ONLY state to show improvement in both fourth and eighth grade in the new NAEP Reading Assessment. Does that really seem likely?
Also, while NAEP shows a statistically significant rise in eighth grade reading proficiency, the EXPLORE tests show our percentage of students reaching the ACT Benchmark scores stayed flat (and, believe it or not, surprisingly close to the very same NAEP proficiency rates). That sharp trend difference is raising some eyebrows.
Finally, Kentucky still excludes learning disabled students at well above national average. That inflates our scores. This even got a mention in Education Week's "Curriculum Matters" blog this morning.
More on this at www.bluegrasspolicy-blog.blogspot.com
C'mon Richard.
You have touted NAEP as the best yardstick for statewide performance for a while now. When NAEP scores lagged behind state test results you (correctly) argued it as evidence that the state test standards were lowered. Now that the same test confirms solid progress, however, you shift gears and go off looking for something to disconfirm results that don't fit your narrative.
Since your overall assumption is that nothing good ever happens in a Kentucky school, I understand your reluctance to celebrate Kentucky's success - something I dare say you have never done. This smells like more BIPPS anti-public school denial nonsense.
People are raising eyebrows alright. This is a nice indicator of real progress by Kentucky kids.
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