Georgia's kids reading better -- somewhat

By Kristina Torres

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia elementary and middle school students have made gains in reading since 2005, although they still trail their peers nationally.

A report released Wednesday analyzed reading comprehension scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. It showed 63 percent of Georgia's fourth-graders scored at basic proficiency or better, compared with 66 percent of students nationally. For the state's eighth-graders, 72 percent scored at basic proficiency or better, compared with 74 percent nationally.

Compared to two years ago, when the reading assessment was last given, Georgia's scores remained relatively flat.

But they are significantly different over their scores four years ago, indicating more students are reading better. Between 2005 and 2009, both grades gained 5 percentage points for students moving into at least the basic proficiency level. Since the state overhauled its reading curriculum four years ago, Georgia's students have made gains that have drawn them closer to the national average.

Fifty-eight percent of the state's fourth-graders scored at or above basic proficiency in 2005, compared to 64 percent nationally. For eighth-graders, 67 percent scored at or above basic proficiency in 2005, compared to 73 percent nationally.

The NAEP assessments, also known as the Nation's Report Card, are given every two years to a representative sample of students in each state and participating cities. The assessments span several subjects including math, for which the results were released last October. It allows an apple-to-apple comparison among students nationwide, since the same test is given to every student.

Nationally, reading scores since 2007 were up one point for eighth-graders but remained unchanged at grade four. In both grades, national scores have risen four points overall since NAEP began its current series of reading exams in 1992. That was a disappointment for NAEP's governing board, which wants to see more students move beyond just basic reading skills.

Georgia's eighth-graders since 2007 were also up a point, scoring 260, on average, on a 500-point scale. The state's fourth-graders dropped a point to 218.

State schools Superintendent Kathy Cox in a statement credited Georgia's improved curriculum as well as teachers for a renewed focus on reading education.