The results of the 2008 Nation's Report Card were released at the end of last month. While we may not be competing equally with other countries it is encouraging to see that we are continuing to chip away at achievement gaps that exist in our own country. You can get more in dept details about the report card at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

Follow up:

Overall, 9 and 13 year and 17 year old age group's reading scores were up over 2004, by 4, 3 and 3 points respectively.

The 9 year old age group gained 12 points in reading from 1973 (first assessment year), and the 13 year old group gained 4 points.

In mathematics, the two younger age groups gained by 5 and 2 points respectively.

And since 1973, the 9 year old group gained 24 points overall in mathematics and the 13 year old group gained 15 points.

With respect to the racial and ethnic achievement gap in the USA we are making headway, better slowly than not at all!

From 2004 to 2008 there was little improvement except for the younger age group.

Black 9 year old students gained 34 points in reading and mathematics since 1971. 13 year old students gained 25 points in reading and 34 points in math, and 17 year old students gained 28 points in reading and 17 points in math.

Hispanic 9 year old students gained 25 points in reading and 32 points in math. 13 year old students gained 10 points in reading and 29 points in math. 17 year old students gained 17 points in reading and 16 points in math.

Interestingly, there is little statistically significant growth in the average scores of 17 year old students in either reading and math. Why? What do we need to do to improve the high school experience in America? Or maybe high school students are more likely to be preoccupied with stressors that interfere with test taking and learning?

To read an executive summary of this report go to http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/main2008/2009479.asp