KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee schools are showing very little progress in the National Assessment of Educational Progress, NAEP, test results this year. The test is considered "the nation's report card."
The report lists only 30% to 40% of Tennessee students are on track for future grade level, college and career success. That number did not budge from the last time students took this test in 2017.
The NAEP is given to 4th and 8th graders every two years. This year, 4th graders did see improved math scores. About 40% are now considered proficient for their grade level. However, reading scores stayed about the same from 2017, with just 35% of 4th graders reading on grade level.
"This is a national crisis. We have to do better about finding out why we are having so many gaps in reading because it's not only nationally, it's locally," Knox County Education Association President Tanya Coats said.
Eighth grade scores were also stagnant this year, still just over 30% of students are considered proficient in math and reading.
“It’s difficult to see that only 35 percent of 4th graders in Tennessee can read with proficiency,” Commissioner Penny Schwinn said. “That said, teachers and students in this state have already proven that they have what it takes to make drastic improvements over a short period of time, and the department will support districts to make that happen again.”
Schwinn hopes that will happen again.
“I’m extremely proud of our students and educators for improving 4th-grade math scores. This state made tremendous academic gains in math and reading between 2011 and 2013, but since then, proficiency has essentially remained stagnant. Tennessee students deserve better, and I know we can deliver that. Now is the time to accelerate once again.”
From 2011 to 2013, Tennessee saw 5% to 10% gains in almost every subject.
These scores are fairly consistent with statewide TNReady scores released earlier this year.
It is worth noting that several East Tennessee districts like Knox County scored better on those tests than the state average. However, individual school results for the NAEP have not been released yet.