09/16/12Missouri Students Take New, First National Computer-Based Test
Patch.com (09/16/12) Patton, Julie BrownAccording to The Nation's Report Card from the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), about 25 percent of the 50,000 students who participated in the United States' first national computer-based writing test scored a "proficient" or "advanced" score on the test. While NAEP has conducted writing assessments in the past, this is the first year the test was computer-based, according to officials from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Because of variations in the testing and scoring process, this year's test results cannot be compared to earlier assessments, and the test results were reported only on a national level. "The ability to communicate and write well is critical in our information-based society," said Missouri Commissioner of Education Chris Nicastro in a DESE release. "Solid writing skills are essential for students to be college- and career-ready." According to NAEP, three percent of students scored in the advanced range, while 24 percent scored at the proficient level.
