NAEP reading and math results show that SREB states again lead the nation in educational progress

That is the clear message from the just-released NAEP long-term study of reading and math, which makes possible regional comparisons of student achievement in 1999 and 2004. NAEP will release this fall the 2005 state-by-state results; SREB states led the nation in educational progress on the last state-by-state results, released in 2003.

The new national and regional long-term trend results showed that NAEP's southeast region—made up entirely of SREB states - had far and away the largest gains since 1999 in both reading and math for 9-year-olds of any region. In addition, the NAEP region composed of SREB states—which historically has trailed the other three regions - moved to within a point (on a 500 point scale) of the Central and West regions in the math scores of 9-year-olds and led the West in reading at all three ages tested. The NAEP region of SREB states had a 13 point gain for 9-year-olds in reading, almost twice the gains of the Central and West regions; the Northeast region had a gain of less than a point.

“This shows the payoff from the steps that SREB states have been taking in education,” said Musick. “SREB states led the nation in educational progress when the first NAEP state-by-state results were released in 2003. This suggests similar results when NAEP again releases state-by-state scores this fall.”

The Southern Regional Education Board, headquartered in Atlanta, was created in 1948 by Southern governors and legislatures to help leaders in education and government work cooperatively to advance education and improve the social and economic life of the region. The SREB's Challenge to Lead Goals for Education assert that SREB states can lead the nation in educational progress. SREB has 16 member states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Each state is represented by its governor and four gubernatorial appointees.