Statement on Results of the 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

Dr. Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Executive Director of The Education Trust–West, today issued the following statement in response to the release of 2019 results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as The Nation’s Report Card:

Report cards are not just a summary of past progress; they’re a roadmap for future improvement, and that’s exactly how California should use today’s results on “The Nation’s Report Card.” While California has shown some improvement in Mathematics and Reading in the past two decades, the hard truth is that we need to be moving much faster toward educational justice. Scores for most student groups flatlined across grades and subjects in 2019, and 8th grade reading scores decreased for Black, Latinx, and Native American students since 2017. 

Taken together, the data tell a story: our students can achieve anything when we give them the support and opportunities they deserve. Year after year, we see persistent gaps in achievement based on race and income level. These gaps do not stem from disparate ability; rather, they are the result of systems designed to perpetuate injustice. We have the tools to dismantle those systems, but it’s on us to do it and to do it quickly.

Educators, policymakers, and advocates across the state should commit today to dramatically accelerating progress in four key areas that evidence shows will help support low-income students and students of color:

  1. Fair funding. It’s simple: we should spend the most money on the students who need the most support. Spending should be transparent, targeted at improving student experiences and outcomes, and monitored for progress toward our goals. 
  2. Data and accountability. We need to know how students and groups of students are doing so that we can give them what they need to thrive, and we need to identify and support schools that are struggling to support all groups of their students.
  3. Access to coursework. Every student should have access to the courses they need to succeed in high school, college, and a career. We need to identify and remove barriers to inequitable course access and support underserved students to succeed in those courses.
  4. Strong and diverse educators. Students do better when they have great teachers who look like them. We should target resources to the schools and districts that struggle the most to attract strong, diverse educators and use data to measure our progress in this area. 

While these key areas and the resources provided illuminate a path forward, state and local leaders must commit to implementing and expanding these practices to accelerate the path toward educational justice.

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Karla Fernandez

Communications Manager

Karla Fernandez (she/her/hers) joins Ed Trust–West as a Communications Manager with over 11 years of experience advancing social impact initiatives.

Karla started her career as a teacher at Chicago Public Schools and UIC College Prep. After teaching, Karla joined United Friends of the Children to support LA County’s youth in foster care as a college counselor. Through Leadership for Educational Equity, Karla also served as a Policy Advisor Fellow for the office of a Los Angeles Unified School Board Member. She solidified her interests in policy analysis and quantitative research during her time with the Price Center for Social Innovation, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, and the USC Presidential Working Group on Sustainability. Before joining The Education Trust–West, Karla was the Associate Director for the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative, a network of nonprofits advocating for communities in SELA.

Karla holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of Chicago, a Master of Public Policy from the USC Price School of Public Policy, and a Graduate Certificate in Policy Advocacy from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Karla is based out of southern California and is passionate about using data analysis, communications, and digital strategies for policy advocacy and social justice efforts.