Top education official touts gains in minority test scores

DES MOINES – State education officials are highlighting gains made in closing the so-called “achievement gap” between minority and white students detailed in a report made public Wednesday.

The 2009 annual Condition of Education report showed Iowa schools are making advances in reading and math in the fourth and eighth grades, especially by minority students as measured by standardized test scores.

“We still have achievement gaps, but we are beginning to close these,” Iowa Department of Education Director Judy Jeffrey told members of the State Board of Education Wednesday.

Reading proficiency rates for Iowa fourth-graders overall were up 3.3 percentage points, from 75.9 percent in 2001-2003 to 79.2 percent in 2007-2009.

Hispanic fourth-grade students saw the biggest jump among racial or ethic groups, raising their proficiency rate by 10 percent over the time period. The proficiency rate jumped 7.9 percent for African-American students, 5.4 percent for Asian students, 3 percent for American Indian students and 3.6 percent for white students.

Gains in math proficiency among the state's fourth-graders overall were even higher than for reading, rising from 75 percent to 80.1 percent during the same time period.

African-American students saw the biggest math gains among fourth-graders, rising 11.9 percentage points to 54.6 percent. Hispanic students were next, rising 10.1 percent, followed by American Indians at 5.7 percent, white students at 5.6 percent and Asian students by 3.2 percent.

Similar gains were seen overall in the eighth grade, with 72.8 percent proficient in reading and 76 percent proficient in math for 2007-2009.

American Indian, Hispanic and African-American students posted double-digit gains in math scores, outpacing white students in gains in eighth grade.

All four minority groups outpaced white students in the rate of improvement on eighth-grade reading scores.

While fourth and eighth-grade students showed overall gains, those gains were not found by 11th grade.

Math proficiency scores for eleventh-graders overall dropped from 79.2 percent in 2001-2003 to 77.4 percent in 2007-09.

Eleventh grade reading scores dipped slightly from 77 percent to 76.8 percent during that same time period.

Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, has been an outspoken critic of Iowa's education system and said proficiency scores still are not high enough and are declining compared to other states.

“We need dramatic reform if our kids are going to be prepared to be productive citizens and competitive in the global marketplace,” McKinley said.

More minority students

Despite test score gains in the early grades, the graduation rates of many minority groups still lag behind that of Iowa's white students. Jeffrey pointed to special outreach efforts in Waterloo, Sioux City, Council Bluffs and Des Moines schools to stress the importance of a high school diploma.

“It's a major challenge for us, and we just can't afford to lose any one student anymore,” Jeffrey said.

The number of minority students in Iowa schools has nearly tripled to 15.5 percent, up from 5.5 percent 20 years ago.

The enrollment of African-American students has more than doubled in that time period from 2.7 percent to 5.8 percent.

Hispanic students represent the fastest-growing segment of minority enrollment. They made up just 1.1 percent of the student population 20 years ago but are now 7 percent.

State Board of Education President Rosie Hussey of Clear Lake said the data in the report shows the state can't be complacent.

“We have to look at the challenges ahead of us – the English-language learners, the minority groups – bring those up, because every child's important. Every single one needs to get the best education we can get them,” Hussey said.

The board honored the Forest City, Boone, Shenandoah and Webster City school districts Wednesday for their efforts to eliminate achievement gaps.