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Montana test scores improve, remain lower than pre-pandemic levels

Elsie Arntzen
GFX Chroma Nation Report Card MT 4th grade
GFX Chroma Nation Report Card 3.png
Posted at 11:36 AM, Oct 26, 2022
and last updated 2022-10-26 13:40:00-04

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) — also known as the National Report Card — scores were released on Monday.

The NAEP measures math and reading knowledge among students in fourth and eighth grade.

The fourth-grade math score was 239 which is higher than the national average of 235, but lower than the pre-pandemic score of 241.

GFX Chroma Nation Report Card MT 4th grade

The eighth-grade math score was 277 which is also higher than the national average of 273, but still falls short of the pre-pandemic score of 284.

The reading scores for both fourth and eighth grade follow the same trend with scores ranging between 219 and 261.

Both of these scores are lower than the previous 2019 scores.

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"Our response to these data are our Long Range Strategic Plan goals and action plans in each school that focus on addressing achievement gaps via multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) and teacher collaboration," Bozeman School District Superintendent Casey Bertram said.

State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen also responded to the falling test scores and believes that the NAEP does not reflect Montana students' education.

“As I have said before, a one-size-fits-all test does not accurately measure student knowledge,” Arntzen said. “This is why I am focused on innovative solutions like the Montana Alternative Student Testing pilot program and math innovation zones. The consistent downward trend in assessment scores must be reversed and our student’s education must be put first."