Did your child’s book report on James and the Giant Peach read more like a text message than a literary critique? When you asked him what the book was about, did he simply shrug and say, “Uh… peach-related stuff?” If you suspect your child’s reading comprehension skills aren't up to par, there’s a good chance you’re not experiencing a case of paranoia.
This week the U.S. Department of Education announced that California fourth-graders that aren’t meeting federal minimum proficiency standards in reading are still passing the state’s reading test.
The assessment found that California has been permitting fourth-graders who would be categorized as “below basic” in federal reading assessments to pass California’s standardized reading test with a “basic” score.
Critics of the No Child Left Behind Act say that the program has called for an unrealistic goal—the expectation that by 2014, all students nationwide will pass their state math and reading assessments. This high-pressure goal has resulted in many states lowering the bar over the past few years. In fact, last week’s report noted that California is by no means unique: between 2005 and 2009, 19 other states lowered their testing standards.
But despite the fact that many states have nervously lowered their standards, most districts still aren’t expected to hit the target goal set forth by No Child Left Behind. As a result, this month President Obama announced that the program needed a major overhaul. Stay tuned for new developments in the near future. In the meantime, check out the latest stats and see how California stacks up to the national average:
Fourth-grade reading
National standard: 238
Massachusetts (highest): 234
Tennessee (lowest): 170
California: 202
Eighth-grade reading
National standard: 281
Missouri (highest): 267
Texas (lowest): 201
California: 259
*Does your child struggle with reading comprehension? Have you experienced frustration regarding school curriculum or a lack of tutoring options? Share your thoughts and experiences below!