The State of Public Education in North Carolina

EDN 200

Today’s Plan

• Reading Discussion

• Book Report Comments

• School: The Bottom Line in Education Video

• NC Information

• PDK/Gallup Survey

Kozol Comments

• Principal and Principle

• Separate but Equal– Does integration have value? What are

the benefits?

Education in NC

• Message from the Governor:• We continue to make great progress in education in

North Carolina. Our students are performing above the southeastern and national averages on national exams in reading and math, they continue to increase their scores on the SAT, and North Carolina remains a national leader in sending our graduates on to colleges and universities. To continue this progress, we must stay focused on ensuring that all students are well prepared for the demands of college and skilled work in the 21st Century.

Fordham Study (2006)

Based primarily on the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), specifically the reading, mathematics, and science proficiency of low-income, African-American, and Hispanic students.

INDICATOR NATIONWIDE DATA Black (Percentage of students at or above proficient)

•4th graders in Reading (2005 NAEP) 12 •8th graders in Math (2005 NAEP) 8

•8th graders in Science (2005 NAEP) 7 Hispanic (Percentage of students at or above proficient)

•4th graders in Reading (2005 NAEP) 15 •8th graders in Math (2005 NAEP) 13

•8th graders in Science (2005 NAEP) 10 Low-Income (Percentage of students at or above proficient)

•4th graders in Reading (2005 NAEP) 15 •8th graders in Math (2005 NAEP) 13 •8th graders in Science (2005 NAEP) 12

Percentage of high school students who have passed 14.1 (with a score of 3 or above) at least one AP exam (College Board,2006)

Percentage of black students who graduate on time 51.6 from high school (Diplomas Count,2006)

Percentage of Hispanic students who graduate on time 55.6 from high school (Diplomas Count,2006)

Access the Fordham report for yourself: Click Here

• Fordham (2006)

• Achievement Trends: Thirty-one states have made at least "minimal" progress among poor or minority students.

Fordam (2006)

Education Reform Grades

Other Mean Measures

• SAT Scores

• ACT Scores

• Dropout Rates

*US Chamber of CommerceState Report Cards

*Slides courtesy of Dr. Karen Wetherill and Dr. Cathy Barlow

North Carolina State Report Card

On Educational Effectivenessby a team of national experts

Who focused on academic outcomesWith attention to key business metrics:

InnovationFlexibility

ManagementFiscal Prudence

Academic Achievement

CC

Academic Achievement

• Student performance in North Carolina is mediocre

• The state’s 4th and 8th graders score a few percentage points above national average in percentage at or above proficient level on NAEP math exams

• They score below national average on NAEP reading exams.

Academic Achievement of Low-Income & Minority

Students

BB

Academic Achievement of Low-Income & Minority Students

• Compared with rest of the country, North Carolina posts solid marks in this category

• 26% of Hispanic 4th graders score at or above proficient level on the NAEP math exam

• National average for Hispanic 4th graders is 19%

Return on Investment

AA

Return on Investment

• Student achievement in North Carolina is very strong relative to state education spending (after controlling for student poverty, the percentage of students with special needs, and cost of living).

• This high return on investment earns the state an A in our ranking.

Truth in Advertising About Student Proficiency

DD

Truth in Advertising About Student Proficiency

• North Carolina gets poor marks on the credibility of its students proficiency scores.

• The state identified large percentages of its students as proficient in math and reading on 2005 state exams

• Smaller percentages posted proficient scores on the NAEP in 2005.

Rigor of Standards

CC

Rigor of Standards

• North Carolina receives a middling grade for the rigor of its standards.

• English and science curriculum standards receive solid marks

• The state has yet to align its high school graduation requirements with college and workplace expectations or to enact a rigorous graduation exit exam

Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness

AA

Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness

• North Carolina earns a high grade in this category

• The state’s 11th and 12th graders perform very well on core Advanced Placement exams

21st Century Teaching Force

AA

21st Century Teaching Force

• North Carolina earns high marks for its teacher workforce policies

• The state tests incoming teachers on their basic skills, requires high school teachers to pass subject knowledge tests, and requires alternative route participants to demonstrate subject matter expertise

Flexibility in Management & Policy

BB

Flexibility Management & Policy

• The state receives a relatively high grade on how much freedom and flexibility it gives its schools and principals.

• 99% of principals report a major degree of influence over new teacher hiring

• National average is 88%

Data Quality

CC

Data Quality

• North Carolina gets modest marks for its efforts to collect and report high-quality education data

• State collects student-level transcript information but does not use a unique statewide student identifier

Citation

Leaders and Laggards: State Report Cards

www.uschamber.com/reportcard

What Metrics Matter to You?

• You have spent a semester wrestling with these questions. Tell us what matters to you?

•PDK Survey

•Thank you