SAT scores down

Average national SAT scores for the high school class of 2009 dropped two points compared with last year, a report out today says. And while the population of test takers was the most diverse ever, average scores vary widely by race and ethnicity.

On one end, students who identified themselves as Asian, Asian-American or Pacific Islander posted a 13-point gain. On the other end, students who identified themselves as Puerto Rican posted a 9-point drop in average scores.

. . . Total scores also dropped two points for white students (who averaged 1581) and Mexican and Mexican American students (who averaged 1362). They increased two points for American Indian or Alaskan natives (average score 1448).

Disparities in scores by gender and income also widened . . .

"As a country we must do better at providing students of every background equal access to education, equal access to the best teachers, and equal access to the best counseling," he said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-08-25-SAT-scores_N.htm

The current "No Child Left Behind" law requires schools to maintain objective and universal standards of achievement, i.e., "every student can read and do math on grade level".

The Obama administration proposes changes to the law, so that schools are judged by "student growth" and "schools' progress from one year to the next".

http://www.miamiherald.com/business/nation/story/1457411.html

Making excuses for poor performance (as the president proposes) will not "provide students of every background equal access to education, equal access to the best teachers, and equal access to the best counseling".