NEW YORK, NY – EdTrust-New York welcomes the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) release of preliminary data from the 2024-25 Grades 3-8 English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Grades 5 and 8 Science assessments ahead of the new school year. However, the data raises more questions than it answers. We believe transparent, accessible data is essential to informing instruction, supporting families, and driving equity-centered decision-making throughout New York’s education system. 

On the surface, the statewide improvements — ELA (+7%), math (+3%), and science (+9%) proficiency — suggest encouraging progress for students and families. However, because the state has altered the exam year over year for the past 4 years, we have no way of knowing if these gains are because more students are actually on grade level, or if alterations to the exam itself are behind these numbers. EdTrust-New York calls on NYSED to release more information to provide greater clarity about changes made to the 2024-2025 exam and commit to stabilizing the exam moving forward. We need state data to be meaningful and reliable. It is a waste of tax dollars, educator time, and student’s time to take exams that have no meaning.  

What we do know is that districts like New York City, are undertaking tremendous  initiatives to align teaching and instruction with the science of reading. We continue to be encouraged by district level data that shows measurable progress. Well-implemented initiatives typically take several years to yield results and New York City’s data demonstrates that progress.  

Yet districts should not have to rely on local exams to assess and measure progress over time. As the federal government dismantles its oversight role it is more imperative than ever that the state produces reliable data and evidence to support our local school districts.  

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About EdTrust-New York:      

EdTrust-New York is dedicated to eliminating equity and opportunity gaps that hinder students from reaching their full potential. We focus on ensuring that students of color, including Black, Latinx, Native American, and Asian American and Pacific Islander students, and those from low-income backgrounds achieve high levels of success from early childhood through college. For more information, visit EdTrustNY.org.