Spring 2002 Standardized Test Results Released

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2002
Contact: Janet Rope
Voice: (703) 588-3118
Email: Janet.Rope@hq.dodea.edu

LATEST TERRA NOVA TEST ESTABLISHES NEW BASE LINE
FOR ASSESSMENT DATA
Spring 2002 Standardized Test Results Released

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA—Dr. Joseph Tafoya, Director, Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) today announced the organization's 2002 standardized test results for the first administration of a new test, Terra Nova 2nd Edition. The Terra Nova 2nd Edition is an updated version of the test administered for the past four years, the Terra Nova, Multiple Assessments. This version of the standardized test offers the major benefit of a completely fresh battery of test items which have been normed to an inclusive "All Students" national sample of students tested with and without test accommodations. Because these scores reflect performance on a different test and a more inclusive student sample, they cannot be validly compared to standardized test results from previous years. These 2002 scores will become the baseline for comparison with results on all future administrations of the test.

DoDEA Students Continue to Score Well

The 2002 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-three (33) of the 45 subtest scores were 10-19 points above the national average; five subtest scores were 21-25 points higher than 50th percentile; and seven msubtest scores were 2-9 points higher than the 50th percentile.

For the first time, the 2002 DoDEA test results are reported for the comprehensive "All Students" group rather than the "No Accommodations" category. In order to comply with the spirit of the new DoDEA Community Strategic Plan (CSP) 2001-2006 requirement to monitor and measure the progress of all students,
future test scores will be presented in the "All Students" format which includes both the students tested with
accommodations and students without accommodations.

The following table provides a comprehensive picture of 2002 test performance for "All Students" in DoDEA.

Department of Defense Education Activity
2002 TerraNova 2nd Edition Median National Percentile (MNP)
All Students in Grades 3-11

DoDEA Scores (MNP) for Comparison with the National Average of 50th Percentile
GRADE	READING	LANGUAGE	MATH	SCIENCE	SOCIAL STUDIES
3	56	62	59	59	59
4	62	64	59	52	64
5	65	65	60	56	60
6	67	65	65	62	65
7	64	69	65	60	62
8	69	67	68	63	65
9	71	66	67	67	68
10	72	74	71	68	67
11	75	69	67	69	69

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:

The following table provides a broad picture of the 2002 distribution of DoDEA students' test scores in the top two national percentile quarters (51-99th percentiles) in comparison to the national percentage of students scoring at or above the 50th percentile.

Department of Defense Education Activity
2002 Terra Nova
Percentage of Students in Top National Percentile Quarters

DoDEA Percentage of Students in Top Quarters Compared to National Results
	Percentage of Students At or Above 51st National Percentile (Top Two Quarters)
	Nation 2002	DoDEA 2002	DoDEA 2006 Goal	Increase Needed to Meet 2006 Goal
Reading Total	50%	70%	75%	5%
Language Total	50%	69%	75%	6%
Mathematics Total	50%	66%	75%	9%
Science Total	50%	63%	75%	12%
Social Studies	50%	67%	75%	8%

The following table provides a display of the 2002 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.

Department of Defense Education Activity
2002 Terra Nova
Percentage of Students in Lowest National Percentile Quarter

DoDEA Percentage of Students in Top Quarters Compared to National Results
	Percentage of Students At or Below 25th National Percentile (Lowest Quarter)
	Nation 2002	DoDEA 2002	DoDEA 2006 Goal	Increase Needed to Meet 2006 Goal
Reading Total	25%	9%	8%	1%
Language Total	25%	9%	8%	1%
Mathematics Total	25%	11%	8%	3%
Science Total	25%	11%	8%	3%
Social Studies	25%	9%	8%	1%

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. The 2002 spring test marked the first time that all DoDEA students in grades 3-11 were tested and results reported for the TerraNova, The Second Edition (CAT/6).