Arizona far better than national average in K-12 education policy according to Education Week "Quality Counts 2007" report

PHOENIX-State Schools Chief Tom Horne says a new report issued by Education Week shows that in the area of K-12 education policy, Arizona ranks well above the national average.

"Among the significant policy measurements such as establishing high academic standards, the testing of math, language arts, science and social studies and holding schools accountable for academic performance, Education Week rates Arizona 14th out of the 50 states, well above the national average," Horne said.

"My goal as Superintendent is to ensure that students soar academically by establishing and administering education policy that encourages excellence in the classroom.  This report demonstrates that Arizona is a leader that effort," he added.

The Education Week report also includes data on academic achievement, but uses the limited NAEP assessment, involving no more than 6,000 students per subject.  A Rand study controlling for the family characteristics of students taking the NAEP test ranked Arizona 21 out of 50, again well above the national average.  On the Terra Nova test, a national test taken by over 600,000 students, Arizona students perform well above the national average.

The two other facets of the report were "Chances of Success" and "Education Alignment."  On "Education Alignment" Arizona ranked 20 out of 50 states, above the national average.  "Chances for Success" measures factors, such as family income, that are not under the purview of the Arizona Department of Education.

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