For more information, contact:
Chris Williams
651-292-4816 (work)
651-247-5539 (cell)

Doug Dooher
651-292-4820 (work)
651-245-6141 (cell)

ST. PAUL, Minn. Oct. 28, 2015 – Education Minnesota President Denise Specht released the following statement in reaction to the 2015 scores from the National Assessment of Education Progress, or NAEP. The test is often called, “The Nation’s Report Card.”

The latest data show there was no statistically significant narrowing of the test scores between students in poverty and their wealthier peers since 1998 in reading and 2000 in math. However, Minnesota students did post some of the highest math scores in the nation in 2015.

Nationally, mathematics scores were lower in both grades 4 and 8 compared to 2013. Reading scores were not significantly different from 2013 in grade 4, but were a lower in grade 8. Until this year, both sets of scores had steadily climbed since 1990.

“It is disappointing Minnesota hasn’t made more progress closing its opportunity gaps since the 2000 NAEP tests and that the national scores have stagnated. While it’s true that in the past 15 years the demographics of Minnesota students changed, and our state was hit by the Great Recession, we should not use external factors to absolve our leaders, and ourselves, of the responsibility to do more.

“It’s no coincidence the drive to test-and-punish teachers and schools began shortly after with the signing of the No Child Left Behind law in 2002. The movement to use market forces to inflate the scores of students of color quickly followed. And Minnesota schools endured an eight-year budget squeeze in the middle of the decade.

“It’s time for a change in education policy and in our federal government’s attitude toward educators, many of whom worry there is little joy left in teaching and learning. President Obama has acknowledged it. Now the NAEP has proved it.

“Congress is re-writing No Child Left Behind. Educators want Congress to loosen the reins and give states a chance to reduce testing and give teachers more time to teach. We want to hold adults accountable for providing students and their families the supports they need to be successful. Locally, our state can shrink the gaps by preparing every 4-year-old for kindergarten and by encouraging young adults of all backgrounds to become teachers and then giving them the financial and professional help they need to thrive.

“Minnesotans can proudly celebrate our students scoring among the highest in the nation in math, but we cannot ignore the warnings in the new data from The Nation’s Report Card.”

About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota is the voice for professional educators and students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.