Through concerns about the length and accuracy of standardized exams, results for third- through eighth-graders across New York state improved this year, according to data released this week by the state Education Department, says the Wall Street Journal.
Statewide results for the 2011-12 school year found a 2.3 percent jump in student proficiency in English, and a 1.5 percent jump in math proficiency, says the article.
In New York City, student scores rose 3 percent in English (with a citywide score of 46.9 percent proficiency), and 2.7 percent in math (with a citywide proficiency score of 60 percent).
"A wonderful accomplishment," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said as he congratulated schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott, according to the Journal.
Bloomberg attributed the gains to his administration’s emphasis on school choice and evaluating performance with test scores, says the article.
The Journal mentions that this year, 113 students refused to take the math exam, and the same number refused to take the English exam, numbers which are up since 2011, according to the DOE report.
