CONTACT:  Michelle Hudgins  (202) 822-7823 

November 15, 2006 

NEA Applauds Urban Districts for Meeting Challenges

President Weaver encourages more resources and support to help public schools 

WASHINGTON—The National Education Association today reiterated its call for increased support and funding for public schools after the release of The Nation’s Report Card: Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) Science 2005. The TUDA Science report measures student achievement in science in 10 of the largest urban school districts, all of which have large minority and low-income student populations. The districts included in the survey are Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City and San Diego.
 
A summary of the report’s findings indicate that, at the district level, students were performing at or below national averages, but, when separated into racial and ethnic subgroups, scores were often at or above those for similar groups nationally. In many cases white, Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander and low-income students’ scores in these districts were higher than or not significantly different from the national averages for their peers.

The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Reg Weaver:
 
“The findings of the TUDA Science 2005 report are not surprising. Educators across the country have been saying for quite some time that the challenges in student achievement that we are witnessing today are due to a lack of resources, not a lack of students’ willingness or ability to learn. Every day we see students who are working hard to achieve and realize their goals and dreams. Our challenge is to ensure that we are doing all that we can to prepare every student, regardless of race or economic status, to lead a successful life.

“Gaps in student achievement have always come down to the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots.’ We have an opportunity to bridge the achievement gaps and create quality learning environments where all students receive the support and resources they need to attend a great public school. It is not acceptable that some students lag behind others simply because they live in the wrong zip code.  The urban school districts identified in the TUDA report should be applauded for the successes they have achieved and the challenges they have overcome. Imagine how successful they would be if they had the programmatic and financial support outlined in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.”

Executive summaries and copies of the NAEP TUDA Science 2005 report can be found at:
http://nationsreportcard.gov/tuda_science/

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.