SACRAMENTO — The National Center for Educational Statistics reported today that California students made real improvement in their mathematic scores, but remain relatively unchanged in their reading scores based on the latest National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) tests. The U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics administers the NAEP tests, better known as the Nation's Report Card.

"While I continue to believe our state standard tests are a more accurate reflection of our children's progress in the classroom, I am pleased with California's results in mathematics," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. "On the other hand, our reading results highlight the continued efforts we need to place on ensuring our lowest performing students are getting the reading intervention they need to improve."

The total score for the math portion of the NAEP test is 500 points. The last time this test was administered was in 2000 and those scores are being compared against the 2003 scores. Grade 4 average math scores improved significantly this year, up 14 scale score points from 213 to 227. This compares to a 10-point jump nationally from 224 to 234. Grade 8 math scores also improved, up eight points from 260 to 267. This compares to a four-point jump nationally from 272 to 276. Grades 4 and 8 math subgroup scores also improved significantly, up to 25 points in all subgroups including gender, ethnicity, and English learners.

The total score for the reading portion of the NAEP test is 500 points. The last time this test was administered was in 2002 and those scores are being compared against the 2003 scores. Grades 4 and 8 average reading scores remain either unchanged or saw a slight increase or decrease of one point. A difference of less than five or six points is considered statistically unchanged depending on the sample size. This is similar to what happened on a national level. However, there were significant developments among several subgroups when compared to 1998 scores. While overall grades 4 and 8 reading scores remained relatively unchanged for all California students, grade 4 reading scores increased for all ethnic subgroups leading with Asians (up 13 points), Hispanics (up 10), blacks (up 7), and whites (up 7). Grade 8 reading scores saw a significant change only among Asians (up 7). Some of the increases may be a result of higher statewide participation in the 2003 NAEP tests. As a result of a federal rule change, almost every school selected for the assessment (99 percent) participated in the now mandatory NAEP testing.

"I am particularity pleased that these results show we continue to close the achievement gap in almost all areas," said O'Connell. "This shows our continued focus on meeting the needs of all students has us moving in the right direction."

The Nation's Report Card is the only ongoing project to monitor trends in student achievement at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. In this round of testing, only grades 4 and 8 math and reading were assessed. The next state NAEP report card for math and reading scores involving California students will be in 2005. The 2003 assessments were mandatory for all schools in districts receiving Title I funds under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Title I provides funding for school staff and programs to help raise student achievement in high-poverty schools. The National Report Card results are online at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ (Outside Source).