National report card gives snapshot of Missouri and Kansas

Results from the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress exams, known as the Nation’s Report Card, show that Kansas followed the national trend of slightly decreasing scores, while Missouri scores stayed flat.

Nationally, fourth- and eighth-grade math scores and eighth-grade reading scores were lower in 2015 than in 2013. And fourth-grade reading scores were only slightly different from 2013.

Twenty states had math scores higher than the national average, and 18 states — including Missouri and Kansas — had math scores that pretty much mirrored the nation.

The NAEP is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the public of how elementary and secondary students are doing in various subject areas. It was introduced in 1969 and is administered every two years in select states.

The percentage of Kansas public school students at or above proficient in fourth-grade mathematics was 41 percent. In Missouri, 38 percent fit that target. For eighth-grade math in Kansas, 33 percent of students were at or above proficient. In Missouri, it was 32 percent.

This year’s average reading score for eighth-graders in Kansas is 267, slightly higher than the 264 national average score but not significantly different from the Kansas average score in 2013.

In Missouri, the average reading score for eighth-graders this year was 267, slightly higher than the national score but no change from the state score for 2013.

NAEP scores were released Wednesday across the country. State educators spent the day assessing, analyzing and reporting on where their states stands on a national scale. Results are measured in two ways, with an average score of 0 to 500 and with achievement levels from basic to proficient to advanced. Each state chooses its own way to compare those scores.

For example, Kansas educators reported that their eighth-graders scored higher in math than 18 states this year.

Missouri educators looked at the state performance in terms of a rank. For example, they reported that Missouri went from 26th to 17th in eighth-grade reading and from 39th to 29th in fourth-grade math.

Overall, Kansas educators, who earlier this week released plans for a new approach to education, said they were not pleased with their test results.

“We don’t like what we see,” said Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson. “With the announcement of our new vision, we plan to raise the rigor of academics and raise the bar on soft skills, such as conscientiousness, perseverance and the ability to collaborate and communicate.”

Missouri educators said they look to NAEP as a gauge.

“NAEP results are an opportunity to assess where Missouri stands in math and reading achievement,” said Missouri Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven in a statement.

This story was originally published October 28, 2015 at 4:45 PM with the headline "National report card gives snapshot of Missouri and Kansas."