Two Years After Enacting Statewide Voucher Program, Indiana Makes Dramatic Gains on National Achievement Test

Indiana Students Rank Second Overall in Educational Growth

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two years after enacting the nation's most comprehensive set of education reforms, Indiana has jumped to near the head of the class in improvement on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly referred to as the Nation's Report Card.

According to data released today by the U.S. Department of Education, Indiana students' scale scores increased for fourth- and eighth-grade reading and mathematics more than all other states, save for Tennessee. Indiana also ranked third in terms of growth from 46th in 2011, if including Washington, D.C., which is first this year. Indiana ranked 13th for overall scores, up from 23rd in 2011.

"This is fantastic news for Indiana's children and shows school choice is having an impact," said Robert C. Enlow, president and CEO of the Indiana-based Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice. "The dramatic increase in scores is not only a testament to the hard work of teachers, it is evidence that the comprehensive reform package passed in 2011 has stimulated significant improvements that aid children in public schools."

When including Washington, D.C. in the rankings, fourth-grade students in Indiana ranked fourth in growth in both reading and mathematics, with scores increasing from 221 and 244 to 225 and 249, respectively. Moreover, eighth-grade Hoosiers were eighth in growth in reading and 19th in growth in mathematics, with scores increasing from 285 and 265 to 288 and 267, respectively. In terms of raw scores, the rankings for 2013 are 14th, fourth, 25th, and 18th, respectively.

"It is clear that increased transparency, accountability, and choice have made a difference for Indiana's children," added Enlow. "Policymakers should be proud of what they accomplished for Hoosier children."

SOURCE The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice