NAEP Scores Reveal Continued Shortcomings

The release of the 2017 national student performance data should not give educators or parents anything to cheer about. There was no performance level above 50% in any assessed category at and of the tested grade levels (4th, 8^th &12^th).

Here are a few examples of how US students performed.

Mathematics (Percentage of students at or above proficiency levels)

Grade 4- 40%

Grade 8 34%

Grade 12-25%

Science

Grade 4-38%

Grade 8-34%

Grade 12- 22%

Reading

Grade 4- 37%

Grade 8-36%

Grade 12- 37%

The numbers were even more abysmal for civics, US history and geography.

Some individual states, like Florida, did experience some increased at some grade levels in some of the specific content areas.

 This would not be the first warning to educators, parents, and government officials, that unless we as a nation do something to turn the tide of student performance, the US will continue to face a decline in areas a expertise on the world stage.

Charter school have not helped neither has giving every student a laptop made any significant difference.

The recent teacher demonstrations in several states have uncovered a truth; states have been shortchanging their students by cutting education costs and allowing facilities to decay and textbooks to become obsolete. The time has come for all like- minded concerned citizens to come together devise plans to shore up our education infrastructure.

For more specific information about the nation’s report card go to nationsreportcard.gov.

C.2018 J., Margolis