NAEP Results Indicate Progress for Students with Disabilities is Little to None

Although more students with disabilities are participating in the National Assessment of Educational Progressn(NAEP), results indicate the gap between students with and without disabilites is not closing much. In 2007, 34% of 4th grade students with disabilities were excluded from testing versus only 28% in 2009. These figures are the same for 8th graders. While more students with disabilites are being allowed to take the NAEP, the average score for students with disabilities continues to be a concern. The average reading score for 4th grade students with disabilites in 2007 was 190 while in 2009 it dropped one point to 189 (on a scale of 500). The 8th grade results were a bit better, but not much. In 2009 the average reading score for 8th graders with disabilities was 229, up from 226 in 2007. Likewise, the gap between students with and without disabilities continues to be large. In 2009, students with disabilites, on average, scored 34 points lower than their non-disabled counterparts. In 2007 the gap was 33 points. The difference between scores for 8th graders was a little better. In 2007, on average, the gap between students with and without disabilites was 38 or 39 points. In 2009 it was 37. These results indicate that we must continue to work hard to learn and implement more effective strategies to help improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities.