State Math Scores Flat In National Survey

New York, NY —

New York State's elementary and middle school students showed no significant gains in a national math test, even though state math tests have shown big improvements. The National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, is considered the nation's report card. It shows 4th grade math scores dropped three percentage points from 2007, with 40% achieving math proficiency. That's a big difference from state tests, which showed a seven percentage point gain, and 87% achieving state standards. Eighth grade math scores edged up by three percentage points in the NAEP test, but they jumped 21 percentage points in the state exam. The chancellor of the state's board of regents, Merryl Tisch, said the results emphasized the need to raise state standards. A separate breakdown of New York City's scores on the national math exam will be released next month.