Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - DP130090
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED330580 AUTHOR:
TITLE: The State of Mathematics Achievement in Texas: The
Trial State Assessment at Grade Eight.
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1991
NOTE: 146 p.; The entire Report consists of a composite
report, an executive summary, and 40 separate reports for
37 states, DC, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, respectively;
see SE 052 055-096.
AVAILABILITY: Individual state reports are available
directly from the assessment division of the appropriate
State Department of Education.
ABSTRACT: In 1990, the National Assessment of Educational
Progress (NAEP) included a Trial State Assessment (TSA);
for the first time in the NAEP's history, voluntary
state-by state assessments (37 states, the District of
Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands) were made. The
sample was designed to represent the 8th grade public
school population in a state or territory. The 1990 TSA
covered five mathematics content areas (numbers and
operations; measurement; geometry; data analysis,
statistics, and probability; and algebra and functions). In
Texas, 2,542 students in 101 public schools were assessed.
This report describes the mathematics proficiency of Texas
eighth graders, compares their overall performance to
students in the West region of the United States and the
nation (using data from the NAEP national assessments),
presents the average proficiency separately for the five
content areas, and summarizes the performance of
subpopulations (race/ethnicity, type of community, parents'
educational level, and gender). To provide a context for
the assessment data, participating students, their
mathematics teachers, and principals completed
questionnaires which focused on: instructional content
(curriculum coverage, amount of homework); delivery of math
instruction (availability of resources, type); use of
calculators; educational background of teachers; and
conditions facilitating math learning (e.g., hours of
television watched, absenteeism). On the NAEP math scale,
Texas students had an average proficiency of 258 compared
to 261 nationwide. Many fewer students (Texas-10%;
U.S.-12%) appear to have acquired reasoning and
problem solving skills. (JJK/CRW)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: Academic-Achievement; Calculators-; Family
Environment; Homework-; Junior-High-Schools; Mathematics
Instruction; Mathematics-Skills; Mathematics-Tests;
National Programs; Problem-Solving; Public-Schools; Student
Attitudes; Teacher-Attitudes; Teacher-Qualifications;
Television-Viewing
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *Educational-Assessment; *Grade-8;
*Mathematics-Achievement; *State-Programs
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