Surprise! State says standardized test scores dropped after tougher exams
BUFFALO (AP) — Less than a third of New York students in grades three through eight scored well enough on statewide tests to be considered proficient in math and English last spring, according to results released Wednesday, but education officials cautioned that the steep drop from previous years reflected a rise in standards, not a decline in student performance.
Test results showed that 31 percent of students statewide met or exceeded math and English proficiency standards on tests given over six days in April. Last year, 55 percent of students were considered proficient in English and 65 percent met the benchmark in math.
This year’s tests were far more challenging because they were the first to be aligned with new Common Core learning standards adopted by most states as a way to improve student readiness for college and careers. New York was the second state to align standardized tests with the more rigorous standards. The first, Kentucky, also saw a significant drop in scores.