La. report card: Meager gains

• By WILL SENTELL
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jan 7, 2009 - Page: 3B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Louisiana public school students rank 47th in the nation in recent academic achievement, a survey released on Tuesday shows.

The only states that fared worse were Alabama, West Virginia, Mississippi and the District of Columbia, according to Education Week magazine.

The findings are part of the publication’s 13th annual “Quality Counts” survey, a state-by-state snapshot of public education.

Louisiana finished 48th in a wide range of categories designed to measure a child’s chance for success, including parental education and income.

However, the state finished No. 2 in how it measures education progress and No. 6 in its programs to improve teachers.

Those and other findings mirror previous surveys that show persistent struggles in the classroom but national prominence in the state’s recent push to improve school standards.

The key results are based on 2007 test data.

The review of academic achievement in public schools focused on 18 areas.

It shows that:

• Among fourth-graders in Louisiana, 24 percent were rated as proficient on a key national math test, giving the state a ranking of 49 in the U.S.
• 20 percent of fourth-graders were rated proficient in reading, also garnering 49th  in the national ranking.
• Among eighth-graders, 19 percent were listed as proficient on a national math test, which ranks the state 46th in the U.S.
• Just 19 percent of eighth-graders were classified as proficient in reading, a performance rated 48th nationwide.

State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said Tuesday the state has long cited new accountability measures as a sign of progress.

“But it has not brought us up enough,” Pastorek said of the implementation of those steps.

He said that is why state officials, in a departure from past practices, are taking a lead role in trying to improve teacher quality.

In another area, Louisiana ranked 48th in a wide range of categories designed to measure a child’s prospects “from cradle to career.”

Among those findings:

• 51 percent of students come from families in poverty, which is 47th worst in the nation.
• Only 32 percent of children have at least one parent with a two- or four-year degree, which is 51st nationally.
• 65 percent of students have at least one parent working year-round, which is 49th in the U.S.

Meanwhile, the state finished second in the nation in its academic standards, assessments and accountability.