2015 NAEP Scores Underscore Importance of Clear, Consistent Learning Goals

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to the new data released this morning from the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Karen Nussle, Executive Director of the Collaborative for Student Success, issued the following statement:

"The results of this year's National Assessment of Education Progress underscore the importance of clear, consistent learning goals and assessments that raise the bar for all students. While this snapshot is disappointing, it would be a mistake to equate these results with a long-term trend. Many states have been and continue to be in a major state of transformation in education – three quarters of states only began fully implementing higher standards barely a year ago; the vast majority of states are focused on supporting teachers in developing new curriculum to meet those standards; and almost every state is working to implement new, 21^st Century tests to measure student progress. In the midst of this, declining scores should not be a surprise, as many states have seen on their own state assessments scores.

It's also important to note that there are remarkable bright spots in the NAEP data – most noticeably in 4^th grade reading. In Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina and the District of Columbia, progress on 4^th grade reading shows that when educators and policymakers focus on a specific goal (in this case making sure kids are reading by 3^rd grade), that can have remarkable impact."

The Collaborative for Student Success is non-profit organization working to improve public education through a commitment to high standards for all students. We believe that the successful implementation of the Common Core State Standards is an important step in ensuring that all students are prepared to succeed in life after high school – whether that be college or a career.

SOURCE Collaborative for Student Success