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“Nation’s Report Card:” Wisconsin has the Widest Achievement Gap

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the “nation’s report card,” was released Thursday.

It says the achievement gap between black and white students in fourth and eighth grade was the largest in the nation, in both math and reading.

The state Department of Public Instruction released a statement in response to the test scores. In it, state Superintendent Tony Evers acknowledges that “achievement gaps between racial and ethnic groups, students with disabilities and English language learners persist.” Evers says the state “must remain focused” on efforts to improve achievement for all students.

Evers also points out promising figures in the NAEP report, such as the fact that the state’s achievement in math is above the national average.

Democratic state Rep. Mandela Barnes of Milwaukee also released a statement, calling the scores for black students “awful.” He says the students “deserve a government and leaders that provide for a robust educational experience, where black students are too seen as an investment in our great state’s future, the economy and workforce.”

Ann-Elise is WUWM's news director.