News Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2003
Contact: Janet Rope
Voice: (703) 588-3118
Email:Janet.Rope@hq.dodea.edu

DODEA STUDENTS MAKE GAINS ON TERRANOVA TEST
Spring 2003 Standardized Test Results Released

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA—Dr. Joseph Tafoya, Director, Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) today announced the organization's 2003 standardized test results for the TerraNova 2nd Edition. In 2002, DoDEA students were tested using the TerraNova 2nd Edition for the first time to establish TerraNova baseline results for the system so student achievement could be measured from one year to the next. The standardized test also provides results that can be compared to a sample group of students across the Nation.


DoDEA Students Continue to Score Well

      The 2003 test results show that DoDEA students' average scores remain consistently higher than the national average (50th percentile) in all subject areas (Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science) at all grade levels tested (3-11). Thirty-seven (37) of the 45 subtest scores were 10-20 points above the national average of 50%; five (5) subtest scores were 21-25 points higher than national average; and three (3) subtest scores were 7-9 points higher than the 50th percentile.

      DoDEA's test results in 2003 are reported for the comprehensive "All Students" group rather than the "No Accommodations" category. In order to comply with the DoDEA Community Strategic Plan (CSP) 2001-2006 requirement to monitor and measure the progress of all students, test scores are presented in the "All Students" format which includes the students tested with accommodations and those students who tested under standardized conditions.

      The following table provides a comprehensive picture of DoDEA 2003 TerraNova results compared with the national average which is at the 50th percentile for all subjects and all grade levels.

      The 2001-2006 CSP renews and refines the organization's commitment to helping all our students succeed by monitoring and measuring student progress through standardized tests. In addition, the CSP requires the reporting of student data by the percentage of students within each national percentile quarter to ensure a more accurate assessment of the academic achievement of all students. The 2001-2006 CSP has set the following high and challenging goals:

"Seventy-five percent of all students will perform in the top two national
percentile quarters on a standardized, norm-referenced assessment.
Fewer than 8 percent will perform at the bottom quarter level."

      The following table provides a broad picture of the 2003 distribution of DoDEA students' test scores in the top two national percentile quarters of 51-99% in comparison to the national percentage of students scoring at or above the 50th percentile. The results show that the increase needed in the percentage of DoDEA students scoring in the top two national quarters is quite small, ranging from 5% to 10%.

      The following table provides a display of the 2003 distribution of DoDEA students' test scores in the lowest national percentile quarter of 1-25% in comparison to the national percentage of students scoring at or below the 25th percentile. The results show that DoDEA is very near the 2006 goal in all subject areas.

      DoDEA is comprised of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS), serving dependents of military and civilian employees in foreign countries, and the Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS), serving military dependents in the United States and her territories.

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