Although economists have officially declared the “Great Recession” to be over, the nation and states continue to struggle back from the most severe economic downturn in generations and face new challenges in delivering a high-quality education to all students, according to Education Week’s annual education report card.
The nation receives a C when graded across the six distinct areas of policy and performance tracked by Quality Counts, (Chance of Success; K-12 Achievement; Standards, Assessments, and Accountability; Transitions and Alignment; Teaching Profession; School Finance) the most comprehensive ongoing assessment of the state of American education.
For the third year in a row, Maryland is the top-ranked state, earning the nation’s highest overall grade, a B-plus. Massachusetts and New York follow close behind, each receiving a B. The majority of states receive grades of C-plus or lower.
The report reintroduces its K-12 Achievement Index, which evaluates the strength of a state’s performance against 18 individual indicators that capture: current achievement, improvements over time, and poverty-based disparities or gaps. Massachusetts emerges as the top-achieving state this year, earning a grade of B, followed closely by Maryland and New Jersey, each with a B-minus. Perennial strong performers, these states also comprised the nation’s top three scorers in 2008, the last time the index was updated.
Despite some solid showings, a wide gulf separates the leaders from the rest of the pack, with the average state earning a D-plus on K-12 Achievement. Four states—Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and West Virginia—and the District of Columbia receive grades of F on the index. Former Washington, DC Superintendent Rhee take note.
QualityCounts2011_PressRelease
Picture: Four Chaplins Ceremony- Fourth Street Park, Hoboken NJ Feb 2011
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