On Top of the News
Surprise: Florida and Texas Excel in Math and Reading Scores
The Upshot/NYT | 10/26/15
Behind the Headline
Florida Defeats the Skeptics
Education Next | Fall 2012
A report released today shows how states rank by NAEP scores when scores are adjusted based on student demographics, including poverty, race, native language and the share of students in special education. The analysis was conducted by Matt Chingos of the Urban Institute.
David Leonhardt of the New York Times notes
With the adjustments, Texas jumps all the way to third in the 2013 state ranking, and Florida to fourth. Massachusetts, which also ranks first with unadjusted scores, remains in the top spot; although the state is relatively affluent, its students perform even better than its demographics would predict. New Jersey ranks second.
Two articles in Education Next have looked at some of the reasons for Florida’s test score gains:
“Florida Defeats the Skeptics,” by Marcus Winters, Education Next, Fall 2012
“Demography as Destiny?” by Matt Ladner and Dan Lips, Education Next, Summer 2009
On Texas’ education policy please read
“Good for Texas. Good for America?” by Chester E. Finn, Jr., Education Next blog, 6/15/2011
On Massachusetts please read
“Accountability Overboard,” by Charles Chieppo and Jamie Gass, Education Next, Spring 2009
—Education Next
