The latest set of test scores shows Hawai'i public school students are improving in math and reading but still rank in the bottom quarter of the nation.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress scores released yesterday show Hawai'i's fourth- and eighth-graders made across-the-board gains on the test, commonly known as the "Nation's Report Card."

"We were the only state to gain in both subject areas in both grade levels," said Robert Hiller, NAEP coordinator for the state Department of Education. "There were general gains but compared to the nation, we're still behind."

Hawai'i eighth-grade students performed worse in the national ranking than the fourth-graders. Eighth-graders beat or tied students in seven of the 52 states and jurisdictions tested. Fourth-graders beat or tied students in 14 states in math and 13 in reading.

The NAEP exam, which assesses a sample of fourth- and eighth-graders nationwide, provides a uniform way to compare student progress across the country. The last time the NAEP was administered was in 2005.

The most significant improvement for Hawai'i schools was in fourth-grade math scores, which had been steadily increasing under the assessment over the years. Thirty-three percent of Hawai'i fourth-graders are now considered proficient in math, compared with only 14 percent in 2000.

"The progress demonstrated in Hawai'i's NAEP scores is a testament to the hard work of our teachers and students," said state schools superintendent Patricia Hamamoto in a news release. "Academic achievement is improving in Hawai'i, and will continue to improve."

The national assessment is part of a battery of tests examined under the federal No Child Left Behind law, which mandates that all children be at the reading and math levels appropriate for their grade by the year 2014.

The NAEP scores come on the heels of controversial Hawai'i State Assessment scores released in July. Under a revised test, about 60 percent of Hawai'i's public schools made "adequate yearly progress" under No Child Left Behind. Some claimed that the new test eroded confidence in the results.

'PARALLEL' TEST RESULTS

The scores were based on a new test that the Department of Education says is more grade-specific, allowing for an accurate measure of how students are doing. They continue to fend off criticism that this year's improved scores are a result of "dumbing down" the test.

State Board of Education chairwoman Karen Knudsen said that over the past several years the progress on the NAEP mirrors the progress being made on the Hawai'i State Assessment. She said she was pleased with the improvement in Hawai'i's NAEP scores.

"We would have concerns if we showed tremendous gains in the HSA and a decrease on the NAEP. But the results seem to parallel," she said. "So far, we do seem to be going in the right direction."

Knudsen pointed out that revisions to the Hawai'i Content and Performance Standards, which essentially outline the skills and benchmarks for each grade level, has allowed teachers to instruct more efficiently in the classroom.

"Am I pleased? Yes, I am. But do I think we are where we need to be? No. We have a lot of work to do, but at least at this point it is very encouraging," she said.

Hawai'i's average fourth-grade reading score was 213, compared with the national average of 220. That's higher than California, Louisiana, Mississippi and the District of Columbia.

IMPROVING AND LEARNING

Hawai'i is one of only six states to experience gains in eighth-grade reading. Sixty-two percent of eighth-graders are at basic or above reading levels compared with 73 percent nationwide.

Improvement in eighth-grade math scores mirrored improvements nationwide. The average scores for Hawai'i and the nation have both increased by 18 points since the NAEP began in 1990.

About 56 percent of eighth-graders are at basic or above their grade-level math skills. However, 44 percent of eighth-graders are unable to use fundamental algebraic and informal geometric problem solving, the NAEP report stated.

Daniel Hamada, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and student support, said improvement on standardized tests, such as the NAEP, are a result of more refined standards and expectations for each grade-level.

Hamada pointed out that with revisions to the Hawai'i Content and Performance Standards teachers now have a better understanding of what is expected in terms of student learning.

"As a teacher on the pedagogy side, it's critical because now they know the strategies to teach and assess," he said.

Hamada said the improvement in the NAEP scores validate the progress that educators believe students are making.

"For me, the question is, are the children improving and learning. This says that they are," he said.