8th grade writing is below national average on tests

Friday, Oct. 1, 1999 | 10:45 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Twenty-three percent of Nevada's eighth-graders could not achieve a basic level of writing in a national test, placing the state below the U.S. average.

The state Department of Education reported Thursday on the results of the writing test from the National Assessment of Progress, showing 77 percent of the students in Nevada scored at the basic level. That compares with 85 percent nationally.

The examination was given to an estimated 100,000 students in 35 states. In Nevada, an estimated 3,000 students took the test last February.

The national assessment tests what students know and can do in various academic subjects. This is the first time the writing assessments were given. The basic achievement level indicates at least partial mastery of the knowledge and skills needed at each grade.

Students had 25 minutes each to write two papers. As an example, students were told to imagine they woke up at night to see a spacecraft landing outside their home and a space creature emerging. The students were then directed to compose a story about what happens next.

Or they may have to write a proposal for an educational television program on a specific subject. Or they could give their views on expanding the school year in a letter to the local board of education.

In addition to the content, students are judged on spelling and punctuation.

Previously examinations were given in math and reading skills in the national assessment program.

Twenty states scored higher than Nevada, and three states scored lower. Nevada was in a group of 13 states that included California, Hawaii, New Mexico and New York. Higher scorers were Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and Oklahoma.

Tom McIntosh, head of the standards, curricula and assessments division in the department, said "It seems pretty high to have a fourth of the students at that low a level."

He said the department will assess the writing programs in schools "to see if our expectations need to be adjusted." He said the department wants to make sure the Nevada standards are similar to the nation's.

Mary Peterson, state superintendent of public instruction, said the national assessment provides "good baseline data for the state.

"We know that NAEP standards are high; our goal is to have all students reach the basic achievement level and a much higher percentage perform at the proficient level," Peterson said.

Nationally, 25 percent of the students performed at the "proficient" level. In Nevada it was 17 percent. One percent of the students nationally earned an "advanced" achievement mark. In Nevada, the percentage was zero.

Girls at the national level and in Nevada out-performed boys on the writing assessment. Eighty five percent of the girls in Nevada achieved the basic level compared to 70 percent for the boys.

Black and American Indian students in Nevada scored higher than their counterparts across the nation. In Nevada, 73 percent of the black students performed at the basic level compared to the 71 percent nationally. Seventy-two percent of the American Indian students in Nevada were at the basic level, compared to 71 percent nationally.

But 60 percent of Nevada's Hispanic students hit the basic level compared to the national 68 percent.

There was no difference in scores in Nevada between urban and rural students. Both averaged 77 percent at the basic level. Nationally 78 percent of the students in the inner-cities reached the basic level, and 84 percent in the rural areas achieved that standard.

The results also showed that students with parents of higher educational levels did better. Only 58 percent of the Nevada eighth graders whose parents did not finish high school achieved a basic level in the writing test. Nationally it was 69 percent.

Eighty-four percent of Nevada students whose parents completed college scored at or above the basic achievement level. Nationally it was 88 percent.

McIntosh said there are some complaints about the sampling techniques of the National Assessment of Progress. The testing calls for 30 eighth graders to be selected in each of 100 schools in the state. Because Nevada does not have 100 middle schools, 90 eighth graders in some schools had to take the examination, which could skewer the results, he said.