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Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Celebrates Major Improvement in Philadelphia Student Test Scores

Posted on: Monday, 22 August 2005, 18:00 CDT

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today joined Philadelphia School District officials to celebrate three consecutive years of increasing numbers of Philadelphia School District students excelling on the annual Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). The PSSA is a standardized statewide test, adopted in 1999, used to determine the extent to which children are meeting state academic standards.

"Historic increases in education funding and focused investments from pre- K through 12th grade have truly translated into a winning combination for Philadelphia students -- and these scores are proof," said Governor Edward G. Rendell. "Thanks to my Plan for a New Pennsylvania, school students across the commonwealth are being equipped with the tools they need to achieve. These scores are a shining example of the great potential inside each of them."

For three consecutive years, an increasing number of Philadelphia School District students are scoring "proficient" or "advanced" on the PSSA. In the past three years:

-- Philadelphia School District students overall scoring proficient or above increased 17.6 percentage points from 19.5% to 37.1% in Math and 11.5 percentage points from 23.9% to 35.4% in Reading -- Grade 5 students scoring proficient or above increased 26.7 percentage points from 18.7% to 45.4% in Math and 14.2 percentage points from 20.8% to 35% in Reading -- Grade 8 students scoring proficient or above increased 21.3 percentage points from 17.9% to 39.2% in Math and 15.3 percentage points from 24.1% to 39.4 percent in Reading

Governor Rendell credited students, parents and teachers along with school and government officials for the impressive achievement levels. Since becoming governor, working with the legislature, Governor Rendell has increased state investment in preK-12 education by nearly $1.2 billion - including, last year, the largest education increase in at least two decades.

"The goal of all children achieving at high levels demands the best prepared and most committed professionals on the front lines of teaching and learning," said Governor Rendell. "We're investing in Head Start, in tutoring, in pre-kindergarten, full-day kindergarten and small classes, and in foundation funding - all for the first time ever. Those investments are supporting students in every school district in Pennsylvania."

Next month, the PA Department of Education will release the list of schools and school districts that met or did not meet Annual Yearly Progress on the federal No Child Left Behind Act last year.

"While thousands more students have achieved proficiency or better in reading and math, our goal must remain that ALL students achieve proficiency or better in order to comply with rigorous No Child Left Behind standards," said Governor Rendell. "Too many schools in Pennsylvania - and too many schools in Philadelphia - will be on the list of those that did not meet AYP."

Through the 2004-05 school year, every Pennsylvania student in 5th, 8th and 11th grade was assessed in reading and math. School districts across the state are currently either reviewing or appealing their AYP status. PSSA scores from the 2004-05 school year are available directly from individual school districts.

CONTACT: Kate Philips 717-783-1116

Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

CONTACT: Kate Philips, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor,+1-717-783-1116

Web site: http://www.state.pa.us/

Source: PRNewswire

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