Have NAEP reading scores improved over the past 40 years of school reform?

Why is this question important? The education system needs to measure critical outcomes to determine whether or not school reforms work in such critical areas as reading. One of the most reliable testing instruments is the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test. The NAEP provides an ongoing, representational, objective and quantitative data on what students know and can do.

See further discussion below.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Educational Statistics, NAEP Data Explorer.

Results: The data shows that there has been virtually no gain in the reading skills of children of all three selected age groups over the past 40 years. It also shows that this performance falls well below the proficiency lines identified above for grades 4, 8 and 12.

Implications: This data suggests that forty years of school reform, initiatives, spending, etc. have had no results on student test scores. The fact that this absence of success has continued for 40 years is extremely problematic. The implications are that the education system needs to significantly modify its strategies, adopt data systems to track outcomes in relation to interventions, and invest in research to determine what does and does not produce desired outcomes.

Authors: None

Publisher: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Educational Statistics, NAEP Data Explorer

Study Description: The NAEP test is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America’s students know and can do in: math, reading, science, writing, the arts, civics, economics, geography, and U.S. History. It provides a common metric for all states and a clear picture of student academic progress over time. The test stays the same each year with carefully documented changes. It is administered by National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the Institute of Education Sciences within the U.S. Department of Education. The tests are continually scrutinized for reliability and validity by panels of technical experts within NCES and by external groups.

Definitions:

Basic denotes partial mastery of prerequisite knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work at each grade.
Proficient represents solid academic performance. Students reaching this level have demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter.
Advanced represents superior performance.

Grade 4
Basic = 208
Proficient = 238
Advanced = 268

Grade 8
Basic = 243
Proficient = 281
Advanced = 323

Grade 12
Basic = 265
Proficient = 302
Advanced = 346