These results are sobering, and emphasize what we already learned from DC’s 2022 PARCC Results: COVID related learning loss is real, particularly for Black, Brown, and low-income students. We know that there is much work to be done to ensure that EVERY child in EVERY ward and community is receiving the education that they deserve. We also know that parent voice and #ParentPower is critical in making the changes we need to see in our education system.
Keep reading to learn more about NAEP, DC’s results, and where we go from here!.
NAEP is a test typically given every two years to a random and representative sample of students across the country. It is used to measure students’ math and reading performance in the fourth and eighth grades.
NAEP is considered one of the most reliable measures of student achievement because it is representative of students from all types of backgrounds – including racial and socioeconomic groups – and tests students across urban, suburban, and rural communities. NAEP is given uniformly across the nation, so it also allows us to compare student results across states and lets our country know how all of our kids are doing.
How is NAEP different from other tests?
NAEP is taken by only a representative - and random - sample of students, so NAEP is used more to assess the academic growth of the nation, state, or student group, rather than individual students. For this reason, there is currently no way to access individual student or school data.
If you want to know how your individual child is doing around the standards that your state has set – which for DC are the Common Core State Standards – then, you should make sure that your school gives you your child’s PARCC results (in grades 3-8 and once in high school for reading and math) that students take annually or the NWEA MAP scores that students take two or three times a year and can show you your child’s growth during that academic year.
How do I understand DC's scores?
Scores are reported in two ways — scale scores and achievement levels — so that student performance can be more easily understood.
To help make sense of the scale scores and give a better understanding of what they mean, student achievement is categorized into three achievement levels set by the National Assessment Governing Board. The levels: Basic, Proficient, and Advanced measure what skills students should know and be able to do proficiently at each grade assessed.
According to OSSE, DC saw larger declines than the national average in 4th-grade reading and math, and 8th-grade math, however DC “held steady” in 8th grade reading. Check out OSSE’s full presentation on the results here.
As seen in DC’s 2022 PARCC results, academic declines were steepest among DC’s Black, Brown, and low-income students.
What do PAVE parent leaders have to say?
It is critical that work is done to close the gaps seen across student groups. This year's PARCC and NAEP results demonstrate the deep and historical inequities in the education system that many parents and families experience first-hand every day.
And ever since the 2022 DC PARCC results were released earlier this fall, PAVE parent leaders have been engaged in data analysis and authentic conversations about what these results mean, and the solutions THEY want to see implemented to support the growth of ALL DC KIDS.
We know that parent voice and #ParentPower is critical to making the changes we need to see in our education system. Parents should always be at the table when decisions involving the education of their children are being made.
Parents have the RIGHT to know how their children and schools are doing. They have the RIGHT for academic data to be made available to them and explained clearly and plainly. Regardless of the assessment used, (PARCC, NAEP, MAP, iReady) parents should be brought into EVERY conversation about how to support their individual kids, and all kids in their community in acquiring the fundamental academic skills needed once they leave the care of our Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade education system.
While academic declines are evident, there are bright spots throughout the city! EmpowerK12 recently named the 2022 DC Bold Schools. These 14 DC schools, “support high at-risk student populations and exceed expectations, closing performance gaps even during a pandemic.”
Here’s what two principals of "DC Bold Performance Schools" had to say about the steps they’ve taken to ensure academic success for their students.
DC’s 2022 NAEP results are reflective of nationwide trends, and while anticipated, they are disappointing. DC public and charter schools plan to implement new measures and commitments, including high impact tutoring and promoting student and staff wellbeing.
“In response to the pandemic, nearly $1 billion of federal stimulus funds have been directed to support the recovery and restoration of the District's public education and child care sectors.” -OSSE
We look forward to a school year of success, with progress made and much needed improvement across all of DC’s schools.
