Nation's Reading Scores Increased in 2009

A report published in March 2010, by the National Assessment of Educational Progress confirms reading and reading comprehension scores across the U.S. improved since 2007. This finding was based on a representative sample of more than 178, 000 students who were in the fourth grade and approximately 160,000 eight grade students. These students took a test which measured reading comprehension in two areas - literacy and reading for information.

The study revealed there was no change in the average reading scores of fourth grade students; meaning 2009 reading scores stayed the same as they were in 2007. The good news is, although the reading scores did not increase, they were still higher than the scores obtained in earlier assessment periods...1992 to 2005. The report indicated that approximately two-thirds, or 67% of the students in the fourth grade, were at or above the Basic reading level in 2009. Approximately 33% of the students performed at or above the Proficiency level, and 8% performed at the Advanced level of reading.

The reading scores for eighth grade students in 2009 were higher than the 2007 scores by one point. This was not statistically significant when compare with the 2007 reading scores. About three-quarters, or 75%, of the eight grade students in 2009 performed at or above the Basic level of reading, one-third, or 32%, performed at or above the Proficient reading level, and 3% performed at the Advanced level.

Another finding reported is that there were no significant gains in reading performance for fourth graders related to specific race/ethnicity, gender, or school type. There was a significant change when comparing 1992 scores with 2009 scores. The report indicated that when looking at specific race/ethnicity, gender, or school type for eighth graders, the average reading scores were higher in 2009 when compared to 2007 and 1992.

An example of the types of reading skills at the Proficient level for fourth graders includes: being able to recognize an author's technique when developing a character, or being able to use information they have read in an article to develop and defend an opinion. The kinds skills assessed for eighth grader at the Proficient level of reading include: being able to identify an understanding of an author's point in a essay meant to be persuasive, or to be able to understand the lines of a poem so they can put into words the speakers point of view.

It seems as though the U.S. is slowly but surely making progress in improving the reading and reading comprehension skills of fourth and eighth students. Both federal and state governments are targeting the improvement of reading for all students in American schools.

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