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Oklahoma Test Scores Still Trail U.S., But Some Gaps Narrow

Oklahoma City Community College

Oklahoma students’ test scores are generally tracking with the rest of the nation: flat or down slightly from 2017, according to the Nation’s Report Card.

Fourth- and eighth-grade reading scores dropped one and three points for Oklahoma, and three points each for the entire U.S. Meanwhile, fourth-grade math scores held steady in the state but went up a point for the country, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Oklahoma narrowed a seven-point gap with the entire U.S. in eighth-grade math, with its overall score up a point and the national score down the same amount. Oklahoma also saw one- to two-point gains across benchmark percentiles as the nation held steady or dropped.

"We are pleased to see that, but we know that in fourth-grade reading and math and reading in eighth grade, there is still a struggle that we are going to continue to work on," said State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister.

Hofmeister said part of the problem is outdated strategies for teaching reading are still being used in many classrooms, but the education department is trying to give teachers the latest in reading science.

"It’s costly, but we’re giving that training for free from the State Department of Education to all of our emergency-certified teachers in the pre-K through third-grade years right now," Hofmeister said.

Hofmeister said Oklahoma’s marks come as the state uses thousands of emergency-certified teachers in its classrooms, tries to implement higher math standards and deals with high rates of childhood trauma.

"I want to see gains, of course. Everyone wants to see gains. But what we know is that we have a solid foundation in what we are doing, that framework that leads to success," Hofmeister said.

Oklahoma’s scores in all categories remain a few points behind the nation.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.