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October 28, 2015

Ranking Member Johnson Statement on the "Nation's Report Card"

(Washington, DC) - Today, the National Assessment of Educational Progress the reading and math results for 4th and 8th graders from the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as the Nation’s Report Card, were released. 

Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said the following:“These scores are disheartening. We have known for years that we have an education crisis in this country, and we must do something about it if we hope to compete in the 21st century global economy.  Unfortunately, the recent results from the Nation’s Report Card show that fourth and eighth graders lost ground on mathematics for the first time in 25 years, eighth grade reading scores dropped, and fourth grade reading scores were flat. An unacceptable percentage of students still test at a ‘below basic’ level; and the achievement gap between White and minority and poor and affluent students remains a serious problem.

“I know that over the next few days there is going to be a lot of blame tossed around about what caused these disappointing scores. I believe that rather than trying to blame new standards or an increase in minority students, we need to focus on the work that needs to be done. We cannot lose sight of how critical investments in education are to our students’ long term success and our nation’s economic growth and competitiveness.”