MEDIA ADVISORY

Math Results for Urban Students on Nation's Report Card to be Released on Dec. 8

Reports Highlight the Performance of 4th- & 8th-Graders in 18 Urban Districts

WHAT:

Release and discussion of The Nation's Report Card: Trial Urban District Assessment Mathematics 2009. The results detail the performance of 4th- and 8th-grade students in 18 of the largest U.S. school districts that voluntarily participated in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Trial Urban District Assessment. Districts that have participated since 2003 or 2005 include Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Cleveland; Houston; Los Angeles; New York; San Diego; and Washington, D.C. This report is the first time seven additional districts were assessed, including Baltimore City; Detroit; Fresno, Calif.; Jefferson County (Louisville), Ky.; Miami-Dade; Milwaukee; and Philadelphia.

WHO:

David W. Gordon, Superintendent of Schools, Sacramento County, Calif.
Stuart Kerachsky, Acting Commissioner, National Center for Education Statistics
Michael Casserly, Executive Director, Council of the Great City Schools
Michelle Rhee, Chancellor, District of Columbia Public Schools
David P. Driscoll, Former Massachusetts Commissioner of Education

WHEN:

Tuesday, December 8, 2009
10 - 11 a.m. EST

WHERE:

National Press Club (Lisagor, White, and Murrow Rooms)
529 14th Street, NW, 13th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20045

Copies of The Nation's Report Card: Trial Urban District Assessment Mathematics 2009 and additional data collected from the 2009 NAEP TUDA math assessment will be available online at http://nationsreportcard.gov at 10 a.m. EST on Dec. 8.

CONTACT:

Kari Hudnell
(202) 955-9450 ext. 314
khudnell@communicationworks.com

Chloe Louvouezo
(202) 955-9450 ext. 320
clouvouezo@communicationworks.com

CONTACT:

Stephaan Harris
(202) 357-7504
Stephaan.Harris@ed.gov

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The National Assessment of Educational Progress is the only nationally representative, continuing evaluation of the condition of education in the United States. It has served as a national yardstick of student achievement since 1969. Through the Nation's Report Card, NAEP informs the public about what American students know and can do in various subject areas and compares achievement between states, large urban districts, and various student demographic groups.

The National Assessment Governing Board is an independent, bipartisan board whose members include governors, state legislators, local and state school officials, educators, business representatives and members of the general public. Congress created the 26-member Governing Board in 1988 to oversee and set policy for NAEP.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is a congressionally authorized project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The National Center for Education Statistics, within the Institute of Education Sciences, administers NAEP. The Commissioner of Education Statistics is responsible by law for carrying out the NAEP project.