MADISON—Elementary and secondary students in virtually every state—including Wisconsin— exhibit a "proficiency gap" between performance on standardized tests sponsored by the state as opposed to the federal government, according to a new analysis from the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX). WISTAX is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to public-policy research and citizen education.

In its new report, "Student Testing in Wisconsin," WISTAX found that 70% to 85% (depending on the grade and subject) of Wisconsin students scored "proficient" or better on the state’s 2005-06 reading and math tests. By comparison, only 33% to 40% of Wisconsin fourth and eighth graders scored at least proficient on the National Assessment of Student Achievement (NAEP) in the same subjects. In trying to explain the state-federal "proficiency gap," WISTAX cited differences in the tests, expectations of what students should know, and subjective definitions of what proficiency means.

Focusing more closely on fourth-grade reading results, WISTAX examined the "proficiency gap," or the difference between the percent of students scoring proficient on the national vs. the state tests. The analysis showed that only four states reported proficiency levels on state tests near the level reported on the national exam: Missouri (35% on state test; 33% on NAEP), South Carolina (36%, 26%), Wyoming (47%, 34%), and Maine (50%, 35%). The widest gaps were in Mississippi (89%, 18%) and Oklahoma (91%, 25%). Wisconsin (81%, 33%) was one of 16 states where the "proficiency gap" was 45 to 55 percentage points.

Despite the proficiency gap here, WISTAX researchers noted that Wisconsin students generally out-performed those in many other states on the national tests. In 2005, Wisconsin fourth graders ranked 15th and 20th on the NAEP reading and math tests, respectively. Eighth graders did slightly better (8th and 14th).

Four states were in the top 10 on the national reading and math tests for fourth and eighth grades. Massachusetts ranked first on all four tests. Minnesota was second on both math tests, and 5th and 6th on reading tests for fourth and eighth grade, respectively. New Jersey’s and Vermont’s results varied but were in the top 10 on all tests.

On the state’s own tests, the 2005-06 Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exams (WKCE), overall results showed little change from the previous year, but individual districts had larger increases and decreases. The WISTAX report lists the top 10 Wisconsin school districts with the greatest gains on both fourth-grade reading and math tests. Three districts appeared on both lists for fourth grade: Black River Falls, Crandon, and Oostburg. Among eighth graders, five districts were in the top 10 on both lists showing the largest increases in reading and math: Belleville, Bloomer, Colby, Freedom, and Necedah.

Created specifically for Wisconsin based on its Model Academic Standards, the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exams are designed to measure progress toward those standards. Students are scored as minimal, basic, proficient, or advanced. The scores needed to achieve the levels are determined by the Department of Public Instruction with input from educators throughout the state and from national testing experts.

The NAEP tests, mandated for all states since 2003, are a national evaluation of student achievement in reading and math, as well as in several other subjects. Results are generally reported in the same way as the WKCE—percentage of students scoring at least proficient.

A change in the WKCE for 2005-06 is that the tests are now "criterion referenced," that is, designed to compare a student’s knowledge and skills to those expected by state standards. Previously, the WKCE were "norm-referenced" tests that compared an individual test-taker’s knowledge and skills against others who have taken the test.

In addition, the previous version of the WKCE did not allow for comparisons over time. For example, tenth-grade scores in 2004-05 were not necessarily comparable to eighth-grade scores taken by the same group of students two years earlier. The 2005-06 redesign will allow for such comparisons. The federal "No Child Left Behind" law requires all students to be at least proficient (on state tests) in reading and math by 2014.

The WISTAX report offers further analysis of the WKCE and NAEP test results, as well as information and comparisons of the ACT and SAT college entrance exams.