NAEP tackles science in urban districts
Charlotte represented the Tar Heel state on NAEP's report on science released today.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as NAEP or the Nation's Report Card, is probably best known for comparing states in reading and math using a standardized test that is given to a sampling of students, typically fourth- and eighth-graders.
But NAEP also tackles science, since 1996 in fact, long before the federal No Child Left Behind Act required states to start testing the subject. Beginning in 2007, NCLB requires states to test students in science at least once in each of three grade spans (3-5, 6-9, 10-12) every year.
This report looks at how 10 large, urban districts across the nation fared in NAEP's 2005 science assessment.
"The similarities between urban student groups and their counterparts nationwide are encouraging," Darvin M. Winick, the chairman of the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees and sets policy for NAEP, said in a press release. "Although lackluster achievement in an important subject area such as science and the troubling achievement gaps for minorities continue to be causes for concern."
From the summary:
*In 7 of the 10 districts, fourth-graders performed better than, or not significantly different from, students in large central cities (those with more than 250,000 residents, not synonymous with 'inner city.')
*The percentage of students performing at or above proficient ranged from 6 to 26 percent in the districts, compared to 27 percent for the nation.
*In 6 of the 10 districts, eighth-graders performed better than, or not significantly different from, students in large central cities.
*The percentage of eighth-graders performing at or above proficient ranged from 6 to 27 percent in the districts, compared to 27 percent for the nation.
Check 2005 NAEP science assessments by state here.
Comments (1)
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Well, 6-26% proficent isn't very good is it? Why is it that our teachers can't teach the basics well enough that only 20% of the kids can reach what is most likely a low bar. Do you think science will be added to mission possible plan?
Posted on November 15, 2006 3:33 PM