Maine Students Perform Well on National Tests
Contrary to claims of failure by critics of public education, Maine schools and students continue to perform well under adverse conditions and with limited resources. Three national tests and accountability reports provide hard data about the successful work being carried out in our classrooms.
Once again, Maine students scored near the top on the National Assessment of Educational Progress mathematics test. Even while diversifying the pool of students taking the exam, Maine performed higher than most states and maintained its high test scores from two years ago.
Fourth graders scored 244, compared to the national average of 239, with only four states scoring higher. On the eighth grade test, Maine students scored 286, compared to the national average of 282, with only eight states rating higher.
In 4th grade math, 45% performed at or above proficiency level, compared to 39% nationally. In 8th grade math, 35% performed proficient or high levels compared to 32% nationally.
What makes this an upgrade statistically is that it involved a much broader sample of students. Through coordinated efforts, the percentage of students excluded from the tests was reduced by about half in Grade 4 and more than half in Grade 8.
In the past a disproportionate number of limited English and special needs students were excluded from taking NAEP assessments, even though they are allowed to take the Maine Educational Assessments.
The 2008-09 year was the fourth year of Maine's Scholastic Aptitude Test Initiative, in which the SAT test serves as the primary assessment for 11th grade reading and mathematics under the federal requirements for No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
Maine is the only state using the SAT to comply with NCLB accountability standards.
The state again surpassed the federally required 95% participation rate in all subject areas, posting a 96% rate in reading and writing, 97% in science, and 98% in mathematics.
Scores were remarkably consistent, remaining unchanged from the prior year in all subject areas. On a scale of 1110 - 1180, our state scores were 1141 in mathematics, 1141 in reading, 1140 in writing, and 1141 in science.
Maine's Department of Education officials believe the SAT Initiative fits well with the current work on the Common Core National Standards.
In the Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) data developed for compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind law, nearly two-thirds of Maine's students achieved goals for students in both reading and mathematics in 2008-09, with another 17% meeting the targets in one of those areas.
To make annual progress in 2008-09, schools had to show a participation level in accountability testing of at least 95% in each category and average daily attendance of at least 91% in grades 3 through 8 for all subgroups. For high schools a graduation rate of 75% or greater was required.
Of Maine's 635 public schools, the 2009-10 AYP status breaks down as follows:
380 are meeting AYP standards.
113 met AYP standards, but are being monitored due to non-compliance in one or more target areas.
102 are marked as "Continuous Improvement Priority Schools" because they have not met their targets for at least two years in a row. 36 became priorities for the first time and some have been on the list for one to six years.
30 schools are poised to come off the improvement priority list as they met their targets this year.
Title I schools that enter into continuous improvement status are eligible for resources and financial assistance from the federal and state governments to improve student learning and test scores.
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