Montgomery, Ala. - In 2007, Alabama made an indelible footprint in National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) history by making higher gains in 4th Grade Reading than any other state in the nation and in the history of NAEP’s state-level Reading assessment. Now, the recently issued NAEP report indicates Alabama’s 4th Grade readers are maintaining the gains previously made in Reading advancements and 8th Graders are continuing to improve. The 2009 NAEP report shows Alabama’s eight-point gain in Grade 4 from 208 in 2005 to 216 in 2007 remains steady in spite of the changes made to the Reading assessment.
Informed by the latest scientific research and extensive input from education experts, the 2009 framework for the Reading assessment used more high-quality literature and a broader range of text types to challenge students. This included poetry and assessing vocabulary in a new way that shows students understand the meaning of words used in a passage. More so than in the past, the assessment asks students to draw conclusions and evaluate the quality of arguments. The new framework has also led to changes in the descriptions of achievement levels to reflect the reading processes used by students when interpreting, critiquing or evaluating text. Nonetheless, NAEP still measures reading comprehension so the trend line can be maintained.
State Superintendent of Education Joe Morton said the 2009 NAEP score of 216 in 4th Grade Reading is evidence that the previous significant gains were not an isolated incident, but rather confirmation of sustained improvement. He pointed out the gains were repeated with a new set of 4th Graders who were selected by a random sampling. “We’ve always known that improving reading was going to be a challenging task. What is important to notice is that the 2009 NAEP data proves the gains we have made are not an anomaly; they would have been validated by the state holding its ground even if the circumstances were identical,” Morton said. “However, the fact that the NAEP standards have been raised and we still match 2007’s scoring in 4th Grade Reading and are up three points in 8th Grade Reading is simply more indication that, while we still have a very long way to go, we are consistently moving in the right direction.”
The 8th Grade Reading scores in Alabama increased three points since 2007 from 252 to 255 – in what NAEP officials consider a statistically significant improvement. The nation increased only one point during this same time period. Increased scores were seen in only nine states: Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Utah.
In 2002, the difference between Alabama and the national average in 4th and 8th Grades was 10 points (Grade 4 national average, 217, Alabama 207 – Grade 8 national average 263, Alabama 253). Alabama has closed that gap considerably. In 2009 the national average for 4th Graders was 220 compared to Alabama’s average of 216 – a four point difference. The 8th Grade gap has also reduced with a national average of 262 compared to Alabama’s 255 – a seven point difference.
Morton said the NAEP results are indicative of the effort that has gone into making reading a top priority in Alabama education. “Reading is the cornerstone to all learning. Solid reading and comprehension abilities are essential to excel in math, science, the arts – all other areas of understanding,” Morton said. “Effective programs such as the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) combined with the will of teachers, administrators, parents and students, can make Alabama a national leader in reading reform which, in turn, positively affects academic progress in other areas as well.”
Deputy State Superintendent of Education Tommy Bice said the stability of this year’s report on the national Reading assessment shows that Alabama’s gains did not occur by happenstance.
“The process of education reform in Alabama is underway. Our 8th Grade reading scores are up significantly and our 4th Graders are proving indicators of progress are real. We know that the effects of programs such as the Alabama Reading Initiative are having an impact on the students and the teachers of Alabama. It provides support for teachers and gives students the kind of quality instruction that becomes evident through Reading assessments such as NAEP,” Bice said. “Sometimes progress comes in leaps and bounds. Other times, standing our ground in the face of changing standards is progress in and of itself. What we do not want to do is go backwards and lose traction after all of the gains we have made thus far.”
Results are reported by average scale scores (on a 0-500 scale). NAEP assesses a representative sample of students in Grades 4 and 8 from each state every two years.
(All schools participating in the assessment are selected by NAEP, not the State Department of Education, and all assessments are administered by individuals selected by NAEP.)
For more information, visit http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/
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