Idaho’s high school seniors have shown gains in mathematics since 2009, according to the most recent results of the Nation’s Report Card. But despite the positive gains, the results also show that many Idaho students are graduating from high school unprepared for the rigors of college or career.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly referred to as the Nation’s Report Card, is typically administered to a sample of fourth and eighth grade students in every state every two years to measure academic progress in math and reading. Idaho was one of 13 states to participate in a pilot of the 12th-grade NAEP.
Among these states, Idaho was one of just four states in which students posted higher average math scores (156) in 2013 than they did four years ago (153).
The 2013 NAEP data also shows that just 24 percent of Idaho’s seniors scored at or above proficient — or on grade level — in mathematics.
In reading, Idaho’s seniors outpace the nation, but they did not show significant growth over 2009. An estimated 41 percent of Idaho’s seniors scored at or above proficient in reading
The results mirror what Idaho has seen on the SAT over the past two years where an estimated one in four high school juniors taking the exam have met college- and career-readiness benchmarks set by the College Board.
NWPE awards grants to Idaho teachers
Nicole Latsch, Aaron Ritter, Sarah Turner and Stephanie Rice were awarded grants from the Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE), the state’s only non-union professional teacher association.
Latsch is a fifth grade teacher at Aberdeen Elementary School in Aberdeen and was awarded a $330 classroom grant. The award will pay for a Rosetta Stone Spanish program.
Ritter is the principal of iSucceed Virtual High School in Boise and was awarded $500. The award will purchase audio and video equipment.
Turner teachers elementary students at Blackfoot Charter Community Learning Center in Blackfoot and was awarded $500 to purchase math manipulatives.
Rice is a teacher at Council Jr-Sr High School in Council and was awarded $500. She will use the money to purchase e-books for her classroom’s Kindle e-readers.
All Idaho educators are eligible to win NWPE grants but association members receive first preference. The next application deadline is Oct. 1.
