CONTACT:  JIM MORRIS
Director, Public Information
573-751-3469

Vol. 43, No. 74

October 29, 2009

New Study Confirms:  Missouri’s Academic Standards Are

Among the Nation’s Highest

A national report released today (Oct. 29) by the National Center for Education Statistics confirms that Missouri’s academic performance standards in reading and mathematics are among the most rigorous in the nation.  Specifically, Missouri standards rate second-highest of all states in three out of four areas measured.

The findings are based on a new study, “Mapping State Proficiency Standards onto NAEP Scales: 2005-2007.”  The analysis looks at academic proficiency standards set by each state and compares them by using the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) as the common yardstick.

“This report is very good news for Missouri,” said Commissioner of Education Chris
L. Nicastro.  “It verifies what we have been saying for years:  Missouri has established high expectations for students and schools through our Show-Me Standards and the MAP tests.  Such standards create real challenges for our public schools, but it is gratifying to see Missouri being recognized for its high expectations.”

Nicastro said the timing of the report could not be better.

“This study puts Missouri in an excellent position as we consider adopting the Common Core State Standards and as we prepare our Race to the Top grant proposal.  Our high standards should have a positive impact on the rigor of the final draft of the Common Core Standards.  And rigorous standards will give us an edge in the Race to the Top competition,” she said.

The new NCES study shows that states vary widely in where they set their student proficiency standards in reading and mathematics in grades 4 and 8.  By “mapping” the state standards onto the common scale used in the NAEP testing program, the study measures the relative difficulty of each state’s expectations.

Based on this study, Missouri’s proficiency standards are:

  • Second in rigor only to Massachusetts in grade 4 reading and grade 4 math.
  • Second only to South Carolina in grade 8 reading.
  • Fourth in the nation in grade 8 mathematics (behind South Carolina, Massachusetts and Hawaii).