NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: November 6, 2018
JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi students have made consistent gains in reading over the past dozen years on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as The Nation’s Report Card, making Mississippi one of the top leaders in score improvement in 4th grade reading between 2005 and 2017, according to a recent report from the National Assessment Governing Board.
The narrative report on Mississippi, “NAEP Gains Follow State’s Efforts to Improve Student Achievement,” took a closer look at what has changed in the state over the years to move academic performance in Mississippi, where scores are increasing faster than the national average.
Score-point increases on NAEP
U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress
“Because of the hard work of teachers and leaders, Mississippi students have made substantial gains in academic achievement, and I am thrilled to see the National Governing Board’s interest in what we are doing in the state to improve education,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education.
While Mississippi students still score below the national average on NAEP, the report noted that student achievement in the state has been improving on NAEP across grades and subject areas for years. The report includes comments from education, policy and business leaders in Mississippi who attribute the student achievement gains to higher academic standards, a coordinated statewide focus on improving literacy; and greater professional support for teachers.
