Grade 8 Science Results: No Improvement for Cities in Connecticut

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released results today from the 2011 Grade 8 Science component of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).  Similar to NAEP Mathematics reports released in November 2011, Connecticut student achievement in science has not shown any signs of improvement since results were last reported in 2009. 

Although Connecticut’s overall performance remains higher than the national public average, other states are showing gains.  In 2009, eight states earned an average scale score higher than Connecticut.  The 2011 results show that 15 states now outperform Connecticut.

 “Connecticut can no longer afford to tread water as other states demonstrate real progress in overall science achievement,” said Commissioner of Education Stefan Pryor.  “In addition to slipping in relation to other states, Connecticut continues to struggle to confront performance gaps, this time in science, between students who are economically disadvantaged and their peers.  These results provide further evidence of the urgent need for education reforms produced by Governor Malloy and the General Assembly, which will address our largest-in-the-nation achievement gap and elevate teaching and learning in every classroom.” 

NAEP 2009-2011 Science Grade 8 Performance: Connecticut and National Public Schools 

Year

Average

Scale Score

Percent of Students At/Above Proficient

Connecticut

2009

155

35

2011

155

35

National Public

2009

  149*

  29*

2011

 151*

  31*

* indicates a statistically significant difference when compared to Connecticut performance.      

For an explanation of statistical significance and why it is used in NAEP reporting, see Appendix A.

Again, NAEP results clearly show considerable disparities in student achievement across our state.  Gaps in performance based on race/ethnicity and eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch exceed 30 scale score points in every case.  Connecticut’s achievement gaps continue to be among the largest reported for any state.

2011 NAEP Science: Selected Grade 8 Achievement Gaps

Subgroup Comparison

Size of selected gaps in scale score points

Connecticut 2011

National Public 2011

Range Across States

White-Black

37

               35

14-45

White-Hispanic

36

27*

11-45

NSLP1

36

27*

13-36

* Indicates a statistically significant difference when compared to Connecticut’s performance difference in 2011.

1NSLP is the National School Lunch Program.  The NSLP category compares the performance of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch to the performance of their peers who are not eligible.  Eligibility for free or reduced price lunch is used as a proxy for poverty.

Although NAEP does not provide results at the district or school level, performance reports include average scale score by school location.  The NAEP 2011 results show large performance differences between schools within our cities and schools located in other community types throughout the state.

NAEP 2011 Grade 8 Science Average Scale Scores by School Location

School Location

Connecticut

National Public

City

137

142*

Suburb, Town, Rural

161

154*

* indicates a statistically significant difference when compared to Connecticut performance.      

“Science achievement on NAEP and on state assessments will not improve without substantial changes to how and when science is taught,” said Elizabeth Buttner, Science Curriculum Specialist for the State Department of Education.  “Adoption of Next Generation Science Standards, currently under development, is an important step toward addressing this problem.  The new standards will be designed to provide greater coherence K-12 and will focus on the application of science knowledge and skills in real-world contexts.  This approach will be more engaging for our students and will prepare them for advanced studies and science-related careers.”