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Montana Students Rank High in Reading and Math

Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda McCulloch today released the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Reading and Mathematics Test scores showing Montana students remain among the nation’s top students.

"Montana’s students remain among the top students participating in 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for reading and mathematics," said Superintendent Linda McCulloch. "Only 8th grade students in two other states scored higher than Montana students in reading. Montana 8th grade students ranked 10th in math."

"Montana 4th grade students improved their national rankings in both reading and math from 2005 to 2007. Montana 4th grade students’ rankings rose from 10th to 7th among the states taking the NAEP reading tests. Montana 4th grade students’ ranking in math rose from 17th in 2005 to 13th in 2007," noted Superintendent McCulloch.

Overall 2007 Montana NAEP scores slightly improved for all Montana grades and subjects since 2005. Montana 4th grade reading scores went up by two points and math scores improved by three points. Montana 8th grade reading scores went up two points and math scores improved one point since 2005.

"Since 2000, the strongest improvement in test scores among Montana students continues to be in 4th grade math scores. Montana 4th grade student math scores have improved 16 points for that period. At the same time, 4th grade math scores improved by 14 points among Montana American Indian students and 18 points by students receiving free and reduced lunches," explained Superintendent McCulloch.

Other Montana tests scores remained statistically near the same levels as when the reading tests were taken in 2002 and the math tests in 2000. Montana 4th grade reading scores rose by three points since 2002. Montana 8th grade student math scores rose by two points and reading scores rose one point for the same periods.

Montana scores were close to the national trends for this same period. Nationally, 4th grade student math scores also improved 15 points since 2000, while 4th grade reading scores rose three points since 2002. Nationally, 8th grade math scores improved eight points since 2000 while their reading scores were down two points from 2002.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly called the "Nation’s Report Card", is the only federally mandated survey of student achievement in various subject areas. Authorized by Congress and administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, NAEP regularly reports to the public on the educational progress of American students.

All 50 states are now required by the "No Child Left Behind Act " to participate in the NAEP Reading and Math Tests. In Montana, a random sample of 5988 4th grade students and 7661 8th grade students took the 2007 NAEP tests.

"This latest round of NAEP scores once again shows Montana students perform well on a wide variety of state and national student tests. If we want to continue to see Montana students performing among the best students in the nation, we need to continue to provide Montana schools with the resources they need to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow," concluded State Superintendent Linda McCulloch.

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