Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 10, 2003
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
“Writing is such an important skill for our young people to master,” Locke said. “I am pleased with the progress our students are making at the 4th and 8th grade levels. I am especially proud of the progress in our middle schools, where many students traditionally struggle. We still must do more to make sure all of our students learn the joy and master the skill of writing.”
The NAEP writing assessment is administered every four years to a sampling of students across the nation in 4th and 8th grades. More than 270,000 students participated in the 2001-02 school year, including, for the first time, a small sampling of 12th grade students.
In Washington state, student achievement is higher than in previous years. In 2002, 8th grade scale scores were 155, compared to 148 in 1998. Assessments were not administered for Washington 4th graders in 1998.
Washington students are also above the national average. In 2002, the state scale score for 4th grade was 158, compared to the nation’s scale score of 154. The state scale score for 8th grade was 155, compared to the nation’s scale score of 153.
The assessments are based on frameworks in each subject area. NAEP classifies students in three categories:
·Basic - partial mastery of knowledge and skill;
·Proficient – solid academic performance; and
·Advanced – superior performance.
The percentage of Washington students performing at or above the Proficient level is improving. At the 8th grade level, the percentage rose from 25% in 1998 to 34% in 2002. No comparison data was available at the 4th grade level since no assessment was administered in 1998.
Washington also compares favorably with other states in this category. In 2002, the state percentage of 4th grade students ranked at the Proficient and above levels was 31%, compared to the national percentage of 28%. At the 8th grade level, Washington students ranked 34% in 2002, compared to the national percentage of 31%.
While Washington students from all ethnic groups and those eligible for free or reduced price lunch made improvements on the assessment, the achievement gap remains evident among historically underachieving groups. A positive note is that the gap between 8th grade white students and Hispanic students is showing improvement. In 1998 the gap was 34 points; in 2002 the gap is 21 points.
“This achievement gap is unacceptable, and we are working to close it,” Locke said. “Our test scores on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) and NAEP reading assessments are rising. However, we need to insure that a good education is a universal right. It must never depend on circumstances of social or economic standing.”
Related Links:
- Governor's Web site
- National Center for Education Statistics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 10, 2003
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Gov. Gary Locke Applauds Improved State Writing Scores in National Report Card
Gov. Gary Locke today credited the state’s tough new academic standards and the hard work of students and teachers for further improvements in writing scores in the latest nationwide report card. The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) today released the Nation’s Report Card for Writing 2002, in which Washington students scored above the national average in both 4th and 8th grades.“Writing is such an important skill for our young people to master,” Locke said. “I am pleased with the progress our students are making at the 4th and 8th grade levels. I am especially proud of the progress in our middle schools, where many students traditionally struggle. We still must do more to make sure all of our students learn the joy and master the skill of writing.”
The NAEP writing assessment is administered every four years to a sampling of students across the nation in 4th and 8th grades. More than 270,000 students participated in the 2001-02 school year, including, for the first time, a small sampling of 12th grade students.
In Washington state, student achievement is higher than in previous years. In 2002, 8th grade scale scores were 155, compared to 148 in 1998. Assessments were not administered for Washington 4th graders in 1998.
Washington students are also above the national average. In 2002, the state scale score for 4th grade was 158, compared to the nation’s scale score of 154. The state scale score for 8th grade was 155, compared to the nation’s scale score of 153.
The assessments are based on frameworks in each subject area. NAEP classifies students in three categories:
·Basic - partial mastery of knowledge and skill;
·Proficient – solid academic performance; and
·Advanced – superior performance.
The percentage of Washington students performing at or above the Proficient level is improving. At the 8th grade level, the percentage rose from 25% in 1998 to 34% in 2002. No comparison data was available at the 4th grade level since no assessment was administered in 1998.
Washington also compares favorably with other states in this category. In 2002, the state percentage of 4th grade students ranked at the Proficient and above levels was 31%, compared to the national percentage of 28%. At the 8th grade level, Washington students ranked 34% in 2002, compared to the national percentage of 31%.
While Washington students from all ethnic groups and those eligible for free or reduced price lunch made improvements on the assessment, the achievement gap remains evident among historically underachieving groups. A positive note is that the gap between 8th grade white students and Hispanic students is showing improvement. In 1998 the gap was 34 points; in 2002 the gap is 21 points.
“This achievement gap is unacceptable, and we are working to close it,” Locke said. “Our test scores on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) and NAEP reading assessments are rising. However, we need to insure that a good education is a universal right. It must never depend on circumstances of social or economic standing.”
Related Links:
- Governor's Web site
- National Center for Education Statistics
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