For Immediate Release

City students show improvement on state math test

Jun 1, 2009 6:28 PM

On June 1 the New York State Education Department announced that New York City elementary and middle school students made considerable improvements at all grade levels on the state’s math test. A total of 81.8 percent of New York City students in grades 3 to 8 are meeting or exceeding math standards. Additionally, the city saw improvements in ELL scores and a narrowing racial achievement gap.

AFT/UFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement in response:

The across-the-board improvements in math testing announced today are something for all of us to celebrate, particularly kids and their teachers, but also all those who play a supporting role in our school communities.

These scores are a testament to our highly qualified teachers and the hard work going on every day in our classrooms. This is evidence that collaboration is essential. An example of what can be achieved by working together with the administration.

Today’s announcement also speaks to money well spent. Despite the country’s lagging economy, long-term strong investments in our classrooms prove critical. The progress we're seeing illustrates how important it is for the city to protect core educational services by restoring some of the proposed education cuts in the city budget. We are moving forward because in addition to qualified teachers, schools have used a consistent math curriculum, and the resources to offer students things like extra tutoring and academic intervention services.

At a time when state and local governments are cutting programs of all kinds, no cutbacks are as harmful as cutting back on our children’s futures, and we cannot allow cuts to deter the momentum of academic improvement we’ve seen. As we walk into the end of this budget season, we must remember that cuts are still looming, and they will be devastating if not turned around.