Student Outcomes
State assessments — annual exams used to measure students’ academic readiness and proficiency — are under increased scrutiny, with some even calling for their elimination altogether. While assessments in New York State and elsewhere are far from perfect, these measures remain the only objective, comparable, and consistent statewide data to help show what our students know, where they are falling behind, and who needs more support.
State assessments in grades 3 through 8, which are required under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), provide objective metrics that can be used to identify disparities and target resources to students, schools, and districts most in need. This is why nearly every civil rights organization in the nation supported annual assessments during the development of ESSA.
Our Equity-Centered Approach
Latest Resource
Report: Warning Bells: The Growing Proficiency Crisis Among New York Students
Our analysis of the 2022-23 New York State Education Department (NYSED) assessments reveals troubling outcomes for New York’s students overall, and inequitable results for students from low-income backgrounds and students of color.
EdTrust-New York completed this analysis in May 2024 and shares recommendations for education leaders to raise student outcomes in math and English language arts in New York State, as well as improve assessments by eliminating racial and cultural biases; providing students with high-quality literacy and math curricula; increasing transparency and timeliness around the release of assessment data; and more.
Featured Reports and Resources Over the Years
Statement: NAEP Data Reveals Crisis with Persistent Gaps for Black and Latinx Students
Statement: Preliminary 2023-24 Statewide Assessment Results
Report: Pandemic Proficiency
Statement: 2022-23 New York State Assessment Results
Data Snapshot
Less than
%
of Native American and 30% of Black and Latinx eighth graders were deemed proficient on the eighth grade math assessment in their 2022-23 school year.
Only
%
fourth grade students scored Below Basic in reading, with 55% of Black students and 51% of Latinx students scoring Below Basic.
More Resources
Event Recap: The New Presidential Administration’s First 50 Days: What We Know, What We Need to Do
On March 18, EdTrust-New York and Educators for Excellence hosted an event, The New Presidential Administration’s First 50 Days: What We Know, What We Need to Do. Individuals and organizations who share a passion for advancing educational equity in New York State joined us at a moment when public education is under attack and students’ civil rights protections are at risk.
New York Must Act Now to Ensure Equity for All Students as President Trump calls to Eliminate the U.S. Department of Education
The Department of Education plays a key role in upholding equality protections for students. Without it, New York risks rolling back progress in addressing systemic inequities, leaving students unprotected from discrimination.
The Elimination of the Department of Education and Its Devastating Impact on New York’s Students
Instead of allowing political games to dismantle the education system, New York leaders must focus on solutions that strengthen education and address the real challenges we face such as underfunded schools, teacher shortages, and post-pandemic recovery.
EdTrust-New York: New NAEP Data Reveals Crisis in New York Schools with Persistent Gaps for Black and Latinx Students
Except for fourth grade math, New York’s NAEP scores in reading and math have stagnated or declined over the past 25 years. These results make it clear that current approaches, especially in middle grades, are failing students. We cannot continue with the same strategies and expect different outcomes.
EdTrust-New York Statement on Preliminary 2023-24 Statewide Assessment Results
We commend NYSED for releasing this important data before the school year begins to help inform instruction and provide information to parents. Last year, there was no public release of statewide assessment data until December. However, the newly released data is insufficient—it lacks disaggregation by student subgroups, does not detail district and school outcomes, and does not specify when and how parents will be receiving this information.
EdTrust-New York Statement on Middle School Math Investments
The decision to adopt Illustrative Mathematics across eight districts and provide centrally-funded professional learning demonstrates a clear commitment to enhancing math instruction for students and educators. This investment is poised to equip students with the foundational skills they need to succeed in higher-level mathematics and beyond.