FairTest Statement on 2018 NAEP Result Release

for further information:     

Bob Schaeffer         (239) 395-6773                                                             

or Dr. Monty Neill    (617) 477-9792​

for release, Wednesday, April 10, 2018

NAEP RESULTS ADD TO EVIDENCE OF TEST-AND-PUNISH ERA FAILURES

AS ASSESSMENT REFORM MOVEMENT ACCELERATES ACROSS U.S.

The National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest), which leads the U.S. assessment reform movement, released the following statement in response to today’s publication of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores:

“For more than two decades, proponents of test-and-punish policies have claimed that their strategies would lead to gains in overall academic performance and a narrowing of historic score gaps. But according to National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores released today, no such trend has taken place. In fact, data support the opposite conclusion: NAEP score gains and achievement gap closing both have stagnated duringthe era that began with promotion of the ‘No Child Left Behind’ federal law. SAT and ACT results show a similar pattern. No wonder the assessment reform movement is accelerating around the country.”

FairTest cited recent legislative and administrative decisions in many states and districts that have cut back test mandates, eliminated graduation exams, reduced time devoted to testing, and allowed students to opt-out of exams. Many of these new assessment policies are summarized in FairTest’s report “Testing Reform Victories Surge in 2017.”

- - 3 0 - -