Alabama’s average fourth-grade reading score increased more than the average score of any other state on a recent national test. A sample of public school students from every state took the test, which involved reading a number of passages and then responding to questions.
Nationwide the average fourth-grade reading score was 1.4 percent higher in 2007 than on the previous test in 2005. Alabama’s increase from 2005 to 2007 was 3.8 percent. New Jersey was the only other state with an increase close to Alabama’s (3.6 percent).
Competitive scores
With the increase, Alabama’s fourth-grade reading scores have become very competitive nationally. This is seen best in the report of test results according to family income, which used 185 percent of the poverty level to divide students into two groups. Among students above this poverty line, Alabama’s score was equal to the national average for that group; among students below this poverty line, Alabama’s score was just slightly below the national average for the group.
The average score of the lower-income group was about 13 percent below that of the upper-income group. Because Alabama has a large percentage of students in the lower-income group, reducing this gap is the key to increasing our national ranking.
A key factor in Alabama’s fourth-grade reading success is the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI), which has been recognized as a national model. It provides teacher training, reading coaches and consulting help to schools and school systems. Begun in 1998, it reached every public school with students in kindergarten through third grade in 2007.
The 2007 national test also covered fourth-grade math and eighth-grade reading and math. Alabama students achieved some good gains but scored 4 percent to 5 percent below the national average on these three tests in areas where statewide initiatives are not as well developed.
The ARI is only now being piloted in Alabama’s middle schools. The Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative is achieving successes but has been implemented in only a fourth of the state’s schools. Better results should follow statewide implementation of these initiatives.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Jim Williams is executive director for the nonprofit, nonpartisan Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama.
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