South Dakota’s scores for math and reading on a nationwide education assessment test are at or above the national average. Results on what’s often called “the Nation’s Report Card” were down in several other states.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress or NAEP test is administered to fourth and eighth graders in all 50 states every two years. It looks at reading and math skills. Mary Stadick Smith is a spokesperson for the South Dakota Department of Education. She says the state’s scores have remained steady, while many other states saw a decline. She says it’s tough to pinpoint one thing that sets South Dakota apart.
“I just think that here in South Dakota we have great educators who are committed and responsible, hard working, and they just are really committed to their students and seeing their students succeed,” Stadick Smith says. “We also have supportive families who are there to support their students and make sure that their students are doing well.”
Stadick Smith says South Dakota is usually above or at the national average. This year the state did see a bit of a decrease in eighth grade math scores, but still remains higher than the nation’s average. She says the NAEP data is one part of the educational assessment process.
“It just gives those broad high level results at the state level,” Stadick Smith says. “So I think educators, policy makers, use this information, like I said, you know it’s one piece of data that they can use when they’re making decisions about big picture things. Instruction, or curriculum, or what do we see happening in our state that’s different in other states?”
Stadick Smith says she’s pleased that South Dakota remained relatively stable while other states did not. But she says there’s always room for improvement.