Latest news with #2024NationalAssessmentofEducationalProgress
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Teachers union boss Randi Weingarten shares her 'concern' with SCOTUS case on LGBTQ books
The Supreme Court is taking on a high-profile First Amendment case after a Maryland school board withdrew its original opt-out policy for books related to gender and sexuality, prompting a federal lawsuit. While the high court appears to be siding with parents ahead of the final ruling, American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten shared her misgivings about the case. "My concern about this case is that it could pit people against each other when what we really need to be doing is we need to be making sure that every one of God's children is accepted in our classrooms," Weingarten said on "The Story" Tuesday. "Whether that person is an evangelical Christian or whether that is the daughter or the son of gay parents, that is our obligation in schools. So it's a failure of all of us that this case is in the Supreme Court right now." Trump Preparing To Majorly Revamp Department Of Education As Math, Reading Scores Show Stunning Lows Back in 2022, Montgomery County, Maryland introduced new books with LGBTQ+ characters and themes into the elementary school curriculum, as part of the district's "inclusivity" initiative. Read On The Fox News App The school district refused to allow parents to opt out of the reading program - the same way older students can forego sex-ed instruction. While the school board initially allowed parents to keep their children out of this curriculum, the plaintiffs say officials quickly reversed course, announcing in March 2023 that exceptions would not be granted and that parents would not be notified before the books were introduced into their children's classrooms. Officials cited increased absenteeism as one of the reasons for the change. Although Weingarten's union does not have teachers involved in the Maryland county case, she commented on the larger issue of woke ideology and parental rights in education Tuesday. The union boss affirmed that parents have "rights" when it comes to their children's education, but she also emphasized the critical role of communities at the local level in needing to hold "sufficient conversations" about "age-appropriate" or "controversial" material. Educators Hope 'Abysmal' National Literacy Rates Will Be Addressed Now That Dei, Gender Ideology Out The Door Although affirming parental rights, Weingarten was pressed on her emphasis on creating a "welcoming and safe environment" in the classroom despite growing concerns around the nation's test scores. "What teachers have to do is we have to embrace everything…that society throws at us," she told Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum, arguing that the federal role in education is to "fill opportunity gaps" and "help every single child succeed." MacCallum pushed back, noting the steep decline in reading and math scores across the nation over the past two decades. Often called the "Nation's Report Card," the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is given every two years and considered one of the best indicators of the academic progress of the U.S. school system. The most recent exam was administered in early 2024 in every state, testing fourth- and eighth-grade students on their math and reading skills. The results showed that, compared to 2022, the average math score for eighth grade students was virtually unchanged, while reading scores fell 2 points at both grade levels. One-third of eighth grade students scored below "basic" in reading, more than ever in the history of the assessment. Among the few bright spots was an improvement in fourth grade math, where the average score ticked up 2 points on a scale of 500. But it's still 3 points lower than the 2019 pre-pandemic average. Some states have also seen individual successes, including Mississippi which has expanded school choice and teacher training. Weingarten called the progress "terrific" and explained her union is working to do "more" of what Mississippi did to see improvements for students. Weingarten agreed with MacCallum that an emphasis on woke issues is a "distraction" from learning, but she remained a staunch champion of "both" creating a welcoming and safe classroom and helping students succeed in reading, writing and math. Fox News Digital's Bradford Betz, Shannon Bream, David Spunt and Bill Mears contributed to this article source: Teachers union boss Randi Weingarten shares her 'concern' with SCOTUS case on LGBTQ books
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Military families sue Trump administration to keep their school system diverse
The top-performing, globally most diverse American school system is the subject of a lawsuit alleging that the Trump administration violated students' First Amendment rights. Twelve students from military families stationed across four countries have filed a federal complaint accusing the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity of censoring books, gutting inclusive curricula, and banning cultural history events—all in service of what they describe as a political agenda imposed by the Trump administration. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. Students at military bases have been staging protests and walkouts at schools around the world to voice their opposition to the changes in a school environment that previously allowed all students to thrive. The suit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia, alleges that recent executive orders signed by President Donald Trump have triggered widespread First Amendment violations within the DoDEA school system, which serves more than 67,000 children of active-duty military personnel. Related: DOJ appeals block on Pentagon's transgender military ban The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Virginia, and the ACLU of Kentucky brought the legal action on behalf of 12 students from six families. These students from pre-K to 11th grade attend DoDEA schools in Virginia, Kentucky, Italy, and Japan. According to the complaint, their schools have 'quarantined' books, scrubbed curriculum references to race and gender, canceled Black History and Pride Month events, and prohibited discussions of 'gender ideology' under directives from three Trump executive orders signed in January. Despite being largely invisible to the broader public, DoDEA is one of the highest-achieving public education systems in the United States. It spans 161 schools across seven U.S. states, 11 countries, Guam, and Puerto Rico, educating the children of service members and Department of Defense civilian personnel. It is also one of the nation's most racially diverse school systems. In January, DoDEA again led the nation on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the Nation's Report Card. DoDEA fourth and eighth-graders scored up to 25 points higher than the national public school average in reading and math. press release. Related: Transgender Army officer Erica Vandal was born into military service. Now, she's suing Trump to stay in 'These schools are some of the most diverse and high-achieving in the nation,' said Emerson Sykes, senior staff attorney with the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. 'It is particularly insulting to strip their shelves of diverse books and erase women, LGBTQ people, and people of color from the curriculum to serve a political goal. Our clients deserve better, and the First Amendment demands it.' The ACLU's complaint details how DoDEA officials, acting under Trump's executive orders, ordered staff to pull books referencing race, gender identity, or 'discriminatory equity ideology' and relocate them to inaccessible 'professional collections.' Some school libraries were temporarily shut down during the purge. Among the books reportedly removed: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, A Queer History of the United States by Michael Bronski, The Antiracist Kid by Tiffany Jewell, and even Hillbilly Elegy by Vice President JD Vance. The administration also targeted picture books like Julian Is a Mermaid and Julianne Moore's Freckleface Strawberry. In addition, schools canceled entire chapters from health classes on puberty, reproduction, consent, and STDs. The Trump administration stripped the AP Psychology curriculum of its unit on gender and sex—even though the material still appears on the national exam. Students say they are now unprepared for college-level testing. Related: Pete Hegseth receives jeers from U.S. service members' families at military base in Germany 'By quarantining library books and whitewashing curricula in its civilian schools, the Department of Defense Education Activity is violating students' First Amendment rights,' said Matt Callahan, senior supervising attorney at the ACLU of Virginia. 'The government can't scrub references to race and gender from public school libraries and classrooms just because the Trump administration doesn't like certain viewpoints on those topics.' The administration's reach has gone beyond textbooks and into school culture. According to the ACLU, the Defense Department has banned official recognition of Black History Month, Pride Month, Women's History Month, and other cultural observances. Even student yearbooks have been scrutinized, with new rules prohibiting any 'visual depictions, written content, or editorial choices' that could be construed as promoting 'gender ideology.' In other words, trans and nonbinary kids of military service members don't exist and cannot be celebrated in their previously supportive school environment. 'Our clients have a right to receive an education that includes an open and honest dialogue about America's history,' said Corey Shapiro, legal director of the ACLU of Kentucky. 'Censoring books and canceling assignments about the contributions of Black Americans is not only wrong, but antithetical to our First Amendment rights.' The suit names Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and DoDEA Director Beth Schiavino-Narvaez in their official capacities. Students are seeking a permanent injunction blocking the enforcement of school executive orders and a court order to restore removed books and curricula. 'Students in DoDEA schools, though they are members of military families, have the same First Amendment rights as all students,' said Sykes. 'Like everyone else, they deserve classrooms where they are free to read, speak, and learn about themselves, their neighbors, and the world around them.' The lawsuit comes as the ACLU fights on multiple fronts to defend civil liberties under the Trump administration, including challenges to immigration policies, attacks on reproductive rights, and free speech crackdowns.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
President Trump calls out Baltimore on education: ‘Zero students who can do basic mathematics'
President Donald Trump held a ceremony at the White House Thursday as he signed an executive order that would dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Trump, explaining the rationale for his action, rattled off statistics about education failures in America. 'After 45 years, the United States spends more money by far on education than any other country,' Trump said, adding that the funding per pupil was especially high considering what the president considers to be poor results. He said America ranks near the bottom of the list in terms success, specifically in reading and math skills. 'Students perform worse today than when the department opened' in 1979, Trump said, as he gave an example of an education failure some 40 miles north of the White House. 'In Baltimore, 40% of the high schools have zero students who can do basic mathematics. Not even the very simplest of mathematics — I said, 'Give me your definition of basic.' And, they're talking about like adding a few numbers together,' Trump said. (His remarks come at about 16:30 in the video below) No other cities were specifically called out for failing schools in the president's speech in which he said education would be returned to states at a cost that is 'half' and 'many times better.' In September 2023, FOX45's Project Baltimore reported that it had obtained unredacted state test results for every school in Baltimore City through a source within the school system. Those results showed that 40% of city high schools, where the state exam was given, did not have any students score proficient in math in tests that were take earlier that year. According to Project Baltimore, there were 13 Baltimore City high schools where not one student who took the state math test scored proficient in math. More recently, students in Baltimore City showed small improvements in math and reading over the past two years, but are still lagging behind the national average, according to results from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation's Report Card, released in January. In December, the Maryland Report Card found Baltimore City schools improving the number of schools that scored a three-star grade or above on the state's school rating system of one to five stars, according to 2023-24 data. Todd Karpovich contributed to this report. Have a news tip? Email nzimmerman@
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hawaii fourth graders show math gains nationally
Hawaii's fourth grade students made significant strides in mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as 'The Nation's Report Card, ' positioning the state among a select group showing improvement. According to results released early Wednesday by the state Department of Education, Hawaii was one of only 15 states to achieve a statistically significant increase in fourth grade math scores, surpassing the national average by 2 points for the second consecutive assessment. Hawaii's fourth grade students posted an average math score of 239, marking a 2 point increase from 2022 and placing them above the national average. The percentage of students reaching proficiency or advanced levels also rose by 5 percentage points compared to the previous assessment. Fourth grade reading scores remained stable at an average of 216, maintaining Hawaii's 2 point lead over the national average. While national fourth grade reading scores have declined in recent years, Hawaii has seen a gradual upward trend, according to a DOE press release. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Eighth grade math scores showed no statistical change, with Hawaii students averaging 270. Out of the 52 jurisdictions assessed, 48, including Hawaii, maintained steady scores, while four states experienced declines. Similarly, the DOE says, eighth grade reading scores remained consistent at 257. Historically, Hawaii's eighth grade reading scores have lagged behind the national average, but this year according to the DOE, students met the national benchmark for the first time—a significant long-term improvement noted by the National Center for Education Statistics, which administers NAEP. While fourth grade math showed improvement, scores in the other three tested areas—fourth and eighth grade reading and eighth grade math—remained steady. Nationally, scores declined in these subjects, making Hawaii's stability noteworthy in contrast to the broader downward trend, the DOE said. The results are particularly significant as they reflect the progress of students whose early education was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the DOE news release said. The current cohort of fourth graders was beginning kindergarten when schools shut down in 2020, affecting their formative learning years. Once ranked among the bottom 10 states in reading in 2003, Hawaii's fourth graders have since surpassed the national average and now rank among the top 10 in the nation, highlighting the educational outcomes despite challenges posed by the pandemic. DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi emphasized in a statement the importance of the results, noting that the state's ability to not only sustain but also exceed pre-pandemic performance levels underscores the effectiveness of instructional strategies in Hawaii's public schools. 'The upward trend in Hawai 'i's fourth-grade math scores is an encouraging sign of resilience and instructional effectiveness, ' Hayashi said. 'Given the national context, where most states saw little or no improvement, Hawai 'i's ability to sustain and even surpass pre-pandemic performance levels is particularly significant. These results reinforce the importance of ongoing investment in evidence-based teaching strategies and targeted support to ensure continued progress. While we celebrate these gains, we remain focused on further elevating student outcomes across all grade levels.' NAEP is administered every two years and assesses a representative sample of fourth and eighth grade students across the country. In the spring of 2024, approximately 7, 200 students from 140 state HIDOE schools participated in the assessment. NAEP results are one of several key indicators used by DOE to assess student progress. The department said the findings align with its latest Strive HI performance results, which showed public schools continuing to recover from pandemic-related learning disruptions. Statewide academic gains in language arts and math remained steady on the state's Smarter Balanced Assessment, which evaluates college and career readiness. The latest Strive HI Performance System results, released in September, showed improvements in science scores and attendance rates while sustaining 2023-2024 academic gains in language arts and math. Statewide academic proficiency in science increased slightly, while language arts and math proficiency remained stable. Science proficiency rose by 1 percentage point to 41 %, language arts proficiency held at 52 %, and math proficiency remained at 40 %. Regular attendance improved by 2 percentage points to 75 %, with on-time graduation rates increasing by 1 point to 86 %. Graduation rates among economically disadvantaged students, special education students and English learners either held steady or saw increases of 2 to 3 percentage points. Postsecondary enrollment among the Class of 2023 remained at 50 %, with English learner graduates showing a notable 4-point increase in enrollment, reaching 36 %. Two schools were highlighted in the September Strive HI Performance System for their significant progress. Hilo Union Elementary, which serves a high-needs student population, prioritized social-emotional support to foster academic success. As a result, the school experienced a 23-point increase in science, a 13-point gain in language arts, and an 8-point rise in math proficiency. Its academic growth now exceeds state averages by 18 points in language arts and 12 points in math. Kipapa Elementary also demonstrated significant improvements, with each performance category increasing by double digits from the previous year. The school's math proficiency rose by 20 points, and regular attendance improved by 12 points. Hawaii's performance on NAEP has received national recognition for its steady progress over the past two decades.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
National assessment shows DC schools improving in math, reading scores
WASHINGTON () — A national report card revealed that public schools across Washington, D.C. are improving in math and reading. Data released from the report reflected that D.C. students tied with Delaware for the greatest improvement in math across the nation. Students in fourth and eighth grade also showed improvement, according to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (), and are out-pacing national trends when it comes to math and reading. 'We have fewer students who are performing at the lowest levels. We have more students performing at proficiency levels, and we are excited that our recovery investments are paying off,' said , DC Deputy Mayor of Education. Bill introduced to prohibit cell phones in DC schools Comparing the progress from 2022 to 2024, there was a 9-percentage point improvement in math scores for 4th graders and a 3-percentage point improvement for 8th graders at or above proficiency. When it comes to reading results, the report revealed a 1-percentage point increase for 4th-grade reading and a 2-percentage point increase for 8th-graders at or above proficiency levels. Additionally, the NAEP results demonstrated that Hispanic students outperformed nationally in 4th-grade reading. School leaders said the pandemic played a huge role in student learning, and so far students are performing at pre-pandemic levels in everything except 8th-grade math. 'We believe that some of the hands-on, in-person learning experiences that you need for math skill development were truly missed. And so that will continue to be a focus for us, especially knowing that we want more of our students to be taking advanced math courses as well, in preparation for their post-secondary journey,' said , Chancellor for District of Columbia Public Schools Childcare consultants see rising demand for au pairs as federal workers return to office They plan to tackle this mission through recommendations from their math task force, offering math certificates for teachers and engaging families. 'We're trying to bridge the gap from what we call old math and new math, with families so families can be more supportive, with math concepts at home,' said Ferebee. School leaders said they're proud to know that 4th grade math tied for the biggest improvement in the country and they hope to see the same for all levels. 'We're very very pleased to feel as though we are on exactly the right path. This is not a call for us to change course. This is a call for us to do more,' said Kihn. School leaders added that high-impact tutoring and support for professional development are a few of the many strategies they will continue to practice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
