\doc\web\98\09\texas.txt Date sent: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 14:57:07 -0600 (CST) To: "ClearingHouse" From: "eca@fastlane.net" Subject: [education-consumers] HELP: NAEP statistics Send reply to: "eca@fastlane.net" ===================================================================== Someone suggested to me that we needed to follow up on Ann Smisko's remarks that appeared in more than one article on the Tax Research Association's report (http://www.taxresearch.org) concerning the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills. In the San Antonio News Express yesterday (11/11/98) Smisko is quoted as follows: The Texas Education Agency, which administers the TAAS, cited a study by the National Education Goals Panel that lauded Texas and North Carolina for having the greatest gains in the National Assessment of Educational Progress. "The fact that the Texas test is too easy cannot be the case if you look at how well Texas students are doing on national tests," said Ann Smisko, associate commissioner for curriculum, assesment, and technology. "They are scoring very well." I located the study Smisko cited through the National Education Goals Panel web site (http://negp.gov/webpg75.htm#Pub). The title is "Rapid Achievement Gains in North Carolina and Texas," and is only available in PDF format. The question posed was this: "If Texas and North Carolina are doing so well, why are both at the bottom of the heap for SAT scores? Last I checked - the SAT was considered a standard national test. North Carolina Texas National AVG 1987 v/m 477/ 468 493/486 507/501 1993 v/m 483/481 490/498 500/503 1994 v/m 482/482 489/500 499/504 1995 v/m 488/482 495/501 504/506 1996 v/m 490/486 495/500 505/508 Can anyone fill us in on the NEG Panel, and the validity of their data? For other state-by-state education statistics, go to: NAEP home page/state-by-state results http://nces.ed.gov/NAEP/ Jeanne Donovan Fort Worth ===================================================================== EDUCATION CONSUMERS CLEARINGHOUSE networking and information for parents and taxpayers on the internet Subscriptions & Archives: http://education-consumers.com or You are currently subscribed to education-consumers as: arthurhu@halcyon.com TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Send a blank email to leave-education-consumers-989462S@lists.dundee.net ===================================================================== For less mail, click on the following link and choose 1) a daily digest, 2) a daily list of subjects, or 3) no mail (read postings on Web) http://lists.dundee.net/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=education-consumers For more help & info: http://www.lyris.com/help or The SAT isnt' perfect for state comparisons since it depends on what % of students take the test. North Dakota usually is at the top of the heap, but it's ACT country. The NAEP is a better comparison because it tries to get a representative sample. The problem with the NAEP is that it sets expectations independently of what actual kids can do, so they can say that "90% of children do not meet expectations" even though, if you took an average, the expected level of peformance would in fact be the 50th percentile. The problem with the report, it's an improvement vs. absolute standing comparison. If my income goes from $4000 to $8000, it's doubled, but I'm still dirt poor. That's another reason people like "continuous progress" Date sent: Thu, 12 No