By Dale Chu
Tracker Updated Dec. 20, 2022.
Since our assessment snapshot was released a few weeks ago, several states have responded with new information, which is now reflected in the narrative below. We intend to continue revising this post as more updates become available, though it’s worth underscoring here why we’re sharing and reporting on this data.
Data matters. Data helps to drive sound decision-making. Good data is especially important in the wake of the pandemic, when more students than ever before find themselves behind the academic eight ball. It is this belief in the importance of good data that drove us to undertake this exercise— one of transparency and public accountability. We were interested in finding out what data was publicly available and easily accessible vis-à-vis 2022 statewide assessments. What we learned was that too often, vital information was missing or buried in places that would not be obvious to a layperson. Others have reported only preliminary data, with final results to be posted later.
As of this writing, all but seven states (i.e., Maine, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Vermont) have released test score data from the 2021-22 school year. It’s worth underscoring the importance of statewide assessments in understanding how students are faring after three years of Covid-disrupted schooling. A complete state-by-state accounting is now available on Assessment HQ via this spreadsheet, which will be updated periodically as more information is released by state departments of education.
So what are the key takeaways? Some will say that this spreadsheet shows that states are acting in good faith and providing a full picture of student performance as required by federal law. That may very well be the case, but skepticism can be forgiven after the mischief some states indulged in back in 2021, to say nothing of the antics of a select few. By my lights, there are a couple of things to note.
First, a quarter of states (25%) are not yet in full compliance with federal requirements around the public disaggregation of student performance: Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah, and West Virginia.
Second, many states (43%) are not yet in full compliance with federal requirements around the public release of their participation rates: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah, and Washington.
To be sure, states often go back and update their data, so perhaps we’ll have this information soon. State education agencies have had a difficult go of it during the last few years, but at a certain point grace gives way to higher expectations of our education officials when it comes to conveying a sense of urgency. Indeed, the bureaucratic foot-dragging—months after these exams were administered and with students already assigned to new teachers in new classrooms—evinces an unseriousness among too many state leaders when it comes to helping students get back on track.
Download the 2021-22 Summative Assessment Snapshot Here.
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