Illinois scores on national reading tests remained flat in 2009, an indication that transformative reform is needed for the state’s schools.  Performance on these tests, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), have been flat for several years.  Achievement gaps have also remained essentially the same over the past six years, though they’ve improved slightly over that time period. Learn more on the NAEP website, including a special page on Illinois scores. Coverage from the Washington Post is here.
Related:  Students in the nation’s urban school districts have improved markedly in mathematics and reading proficiency as measured both on state exams and the National Assessment of Educational Progress, according to a new report by the Washington-based Council of the Great City Schools. EdWeek coverage here.

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Advance Illinois Senior Policy Associate Ben Boer contributed to the Education Sector’s running blog “Five Principles for Smarter Data Systems.“   Ben makes the point that good data and a strong assessment system should work together in  feedback loop, with strong data feeding sound assessments, and the results from the assessments feeding back to the data system to improve further testing.   Read the essay here.

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Congratulations to Illinois for being named one of the 16 Race to the Top finalists.  State leaders and lawmakers should be proud of their hard work and smart leadership over the past year. Good luck to the team going to do the finalist interview in Washington.  Here is the statement from Advance Illinois Executive Director Robin Steans.   Here is the Dept of Education page on the Race to the Top.

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