More New York State students are taking and passing state Regents exams, and more students are receiving a Regents' diploma each year, according to the 2003 school report cards released today by the state Board of Regents.
But the data also reinforce the need to enforce the state's standards, recruit more certified teachers, offer a more rigorous curriculum, and offer enrichment programs for students who are falling behind, Richard Mills, state commissioner of education, said in releasing the data.
"This school report card shows good news," said Richard Mills, commissioner of education. "But we need to do better. Too many young people historically take longer to graduate, or they drop out. We need to press on and provide more help to students and close the achievement gap."
Commissioner Mills said the school report cards also showed:
- The
number of students graduating each year is stable, despite
higher graduation standards.
- A
gap between achievement of minority students and white students,
and a gap between low-needs school districts and districts
with higher needs.
- New York's middle schools and elementary schools scored higher in math over 1999. Elementary schools also saw greater achievement in English, while middle schools did not.
Click here for the New York State School Report Card For School Year 2002-2003.