Committee on Education and Labor : U.S. House of Representatives

Press Releases

Chairman Miller Statement on New Report Showing Student Gains in Reading and Math

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
 

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement on a new report on trends in state test scores released today by the Center on Education Policy.  The report shows that, since 2002, students’ state test scores in reading and math have increased, and that that progress has been made in narrowing the student achievement gap, among other things.

“It’s encouraging that our nation’s students are making improvements in reading and math – the building blocks that lay the foundation for a solid education. It’s also good news that the achievement gap between students has generally continued to narrow, especially for low-income and African-American students. This report shows that states’ and schools’ hard work to raise student achievement is beginning to pay off, and they deserve great credit for this progress.

“However, this report also shows we have a long way to go in order to make sure that every student in America gets the kind of education that prepares them for success in college and for 21st century jobs.  We need to help our students not only master the basics, but also the complex, critical thinking skills they will need in today’s increasingly global economy. We need to do more to recruit top teachers into the classrooms and subject areas that need them the most, and provide all teachers with the support and resources they need and deserve. And we need to provide states and schools with the fairness, the flexibility and the funding needed to truly improve education in a meaningful way.”

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