Burmaster Praises Student Performance on Reading Test

More than three-quarters of all students who took the 2001 Wisconsin Reading Comprehension test scored in the top two proficiency levels, according to State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster.

"I am very proud of our students, their primary school teachers, and their families for making a commitment to improved reading. But our work is not done," Burmaster said.

Of the 58,507 public school third-graders who took test, 76.5 percent scored proficient or advanced compared with 74.4 percent who scored in the top two proficiency levels last year.

Wisconsin Reading Comprehension Test
Percent Proficient and Advanced

	1999	2000	2001
All Students	70.1	74.4	76.5
economically disadvantaged	52	56	59
not economically disadvantaged	78	82	84
African American	45	52	54
American Indian	58	63	68
Asian	43	48	56
Hispanic	47	51	49
White	77	80	83

Wisconsin Reading Comprehension Test results show that the scores for students from economically disadvantaged families and for nearly all minority groups show steady improvement, but also highlight significant gaps in student achievement.

In 2001, 59 percent of students from low-income families scored proficient or advanced compared to 84 percent of students who do not come from economically disadvantaged families.

While 83 percent of white students scored proficient or advanced on the reading test, the percentage of students from other racial or ethnic groups scoring in the top two levels were: African American, 54 percent; American Indian, 68 percent; Asian, 56 percent; and Hispanic, 49 percent.

Wisconsin Reading Comprehension Test
Percent Proficient and Advanced

% of students in district who are economically disadvantaged	1999	2000	2001
50% or more	58	64	64
25% to 49.9%	74	79	81
5% to 24.9%	81	85	86
Less than 5%	83	89	90

"Reading is the fundamental skill that separates children who succeed from those who struggle," Burmaster said. "I believe that improving reading programs in the early grades is vital to getting our children on the path to success."

Districts with high numbers of economically disadvantaged students have either sustained or improved performance from prior years.

The statewide reading test was administered to public school third-graders in March. Results reflect responses to 61 multiple-choice and two short-answer questions based on three reading passages. Under state law, the 2,329 students who scored in the minimal proficiency level must be evaluated to determine if they need remedial reading or other services.

The performance standards for the 2001 test (minimal, basic, proficient, and advanced) are based on standards established in July 1998. This is the fourth year the DPI is reporting results for the Wisconsin Reading Comprehension Test in relation to the standards.

On the 2001 test, 501 schools had no students scoring in the minimal proficiency level and 66 of those schools had all of their third-graders scoring in the proficient and advanced levels. Of all test-takers, 991 students (1.7 percent) earned all 67 reading comprehension test points. The statewide average score was 53.8 points out of a possible 67 points on the reading comprehension questions.