David Cantor's response only goes to show how bad things are in New York City these days, and demonstrates the need for an independent assessment agency to evaluate test scores and graduation data.
I did not use selective data. I challenged the NYC Department of Education's repeated claim about "historic gains" of 19 points in math and 12 points in reading. The fact is that Chancellor Klein was in the process of announcing his proposed instructional reforms in January 2003 at the very same time that students in fourth grade were taking the state math tests that produced 15 of those 19 points. Every current brochure of Mr. Klein's "Children First" program claims credit for a 19-point gain in mathematics in fourth grade and press releases reiterate the claim of "historic gains." Apparently the public relations office is now willing to concede that those brochures and press releases are wrong and that the true gain was only 4.2 points over three years. As I said in my original item, respectable, but not "historic."
It is also the case, and the public relations office doesn't question it, that eighth grade scores on the state tests in both English language arts and mathematics are flat. Despite the fact that the NYC DOE claims to have ended social promotion, 60% of eighth graders are still unable to meet state standards in either subject.
The public relations office says the graduation rate is 58%. The New York State Department of Education says it's 43%. I don't know which number is right, but I do know that the two agencies are negotiating to arrive at a common metric, which presumably will be more than 43% and less than 58%, and not much to boast about.
As to the national data, the National Assessment of Education Progress tests for urban districts showed that fourth grade reading performance for NYC was flat from 2003 to 2005. Math scores in fourth grade increased, but so did math scores in Boston, San Diego, Los Angeles, Houston, and the District of Columbia, which led some testing experts to wonder if the test was easier. New York City recorded no significant change in reading scores or math scores for students in eighth grade.
