The editorial board of the Des Moines Register checks in:
News that Iowa 12th-graders scored above average in reading and math on a national exam is nothing to cheer about, unfortunately. Even though they posted relatively high scores, a majority still weren't well prepared, according to a report released last week. It's more evidence academic expectations are often too low.
Most Iowa 12th-graders were not proficient in reading or math on the highly regarded National Assessment of Educational Progress. Proficiency is defined as "solid academic performance" and as having "demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter." In other words, the kind of education needed today for Americans to succeed in a global economy filled with motivated young people from places like China, India and Canada.
First, look at reading. Iowa 12th-graders' average score was 291 compared to a 287 for public school students nationally. But just 35 percent of Iowa seniors performed at the level of proficient and 4 percent were advanced. Another 40 percent of Iowa 12th-graders scored at the basic level, defined as "partial mastery of prerequisite knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work at each grade." And 21 percent of our 12th-graders fell below the basic level.
Now, consider math. Iowa 12th-graders' average score was 156, a little better than the 152 average nationwide. But only 24 percent of Iowa seniors scored proficient and 1 percent were advanced. While 46 percent of Iowa 12th-graders were at the basic level, another 29 percent were below basic - nearly one-third.
Iowa does deserve credit for sticking its neck out. It's one of 11 states that volunteered for the first state pilot program for 12th-grade - which means those states' public school scores can be compared individually while the rest of the states are lumped together.
Now, let's put that information to good use.
This state should make sure the new Iowa Core - "essential" skills and concepts that soon must be in place in all grades - delivers what seems to be missing now. For example, teenagers who reported never writing long answers to questions involving reading turned in the lowest average reading scores on the national exam. And the Iowa Core may fall short on that count.
Under the Iowa Core, the expectation is that extensive writing will take place in all subjects - not just in English, said Kevin Fangman, acting director of the Iowa Department of Education. But here's the problem: The new state achievement test that will assess whether students are learning the Iowa Core won't measure writing skills. It will be multiple choice, and districts can pay extra if they want students to provide longer, written answers to questions.
The new governor and legislators should provide that funding.
This is not Iowa's first wake-up call. This state was a top performer in fourth and eighth grades on the National Assessment of Educational Progress in the 1990s, but dropped in the rankings. Similarly, the United States has made a poor showing on the Program for International Student Assessment, which has compared 15-year-olds around the globe in science, math and reading over the past decade.
Iowa and the nation still have work to do to prepare graduates for a more competitive world.
