July 2013

Two new reports have been released on education statistics from the federal government over the past month:  

• The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released data from a long-term assessment of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on June 27. The report highlights trends since the 1970s on demographics and average scale scores for the test. The data indicate that the achievement gap has narrowed between White and Hispanic students and White and Black students in all of the age groups tested in both reading and math. The average scale score for all students increased since 1973 for 9-year-old and 13-year-old students, while scores for 17-year-old students remained relatively unchanged.  
• The Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics published America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2013 on July 12. The compendium includes statistics on children collected by the federal statistical agencies—including NCES—on family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education, and health.