"What percentage of Georgia's fourth-graders are good readers? It seems to depend on whom you ask. The state will tell you that 85% met or exceeded the proficiency benchmark on its 2007 test. On the other hand, that year only 28% scored high enough to be considered proficient on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, an exam administered by the U.S. Department of Education that is usually regarded as the gold standard. The big difference results from where the two tests set their proficiency bars. Georgia sets its bar pretty low -- so low that barely literate students can score high enough to be deemed proficient. On the NAEP, a student labeled 'proficient' by Georgia could fail to score above 'basic.'
Unfortunately, five states have even lower standards than Georgia's, and eight others are at about the same level. For its part, in 2007, 52% of California's students performed at or above the proficiency benchmark on the state's reading exam, while only 23% met or exceeded the NAEP's proficiency standard."
Unfortunately, five states have even lower standards than Georgia's, and eight others are at about the same level. For its part, in 2007, 52% of California's students performed at or above the proficiency benchmark on the state's reading exam, while only 23% met or exceeded the NAEP's proficiency standard."