Montana Students Score Among Nation’s Top Readers

Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda McCulloch today released the
2002 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Reading Test
scores showing Montana students ranked again among the nation’s top
readers.

"I am delighted today to report Montana’s 4th and 8th grade students
remain among the top students in the states participating in 2002 National
Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for reading," said
Superintendent Linda McCulloch. "Only 4th and 8th grade students in four
other states scored higher than Montana students in the ‘at or above
proficient level’."

"Montana’s students reading scores remained statistically near the same
level as the last time the tests were taken in 1998. I remain concerned
that while Montana’s scores are among the highest, other states are
closing the gap as they make significant investments in their school
systems, " noted McCulloch. "In both 1994 and 1998 Montana students
averaged ten points higher than the national average. That has shrunk to
seven points above the national average in the 2002 tests."

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.

Most states and jurisdictions participated in the 2002 NAEP reading test.
In Montana, a random sample of 3191 students took the 2002 NAEP reading
test.

"We saw some encouraging news in reading scores among 4th grade Montana
American Indian students. Montana 4th grade American Indian students
improved their average scale scores by ten points over the 1998 level.
This was eleven points higher than the state average change for the same
period," said Supt. Linda McCulloch. "A great deal still needs to be done
to improve Montana’s American Indian student scores, but progress in
reading scores is occurring."

"Montana girls continued to score significantly higher than boys in
reading, ten points higher in the 4th grade and seven points in the 8th
grade. However, there was some narrowing of the "gender gap" among 8th
grade students in the past four years. In 1998, 90% Montana girls and
76% of boys performed at the ‘basic or above level’ for reading skills.
Four years later, 88% of the girls and 81% of the boys demonstrated ‘basic
or above’ reading skills," observed McCulloch.

"These results speak well for the quality of education provided by
Montana’s educators. Montanans need to realize we are now at a critical
point concerning whether our state will be able to maintain the high
quality of our schools. If we don’t seriously address the very real
problems such as a looming educator shortage and adequate state support
for schools, we will very likely see a decline in the quality of the
education our children receive. We need to address these problems now.
Waiting will only create far worse
and more costly problems," concludes McCulloch.

For More Information Contact:

Donna O’Neill 444-0793

Joe Lamson 444-3160

NAEP Website:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/reading/results2002/