ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA — July 27, 2007 — The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) today announced the results of the 2007 standardized test results for the TerraNova Multiple Assessments, 2nd Edition. The results show that DoDEA students' average scores remain substantially 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).

The TerraNova is a standardized norm-referenced achievement test developed by CTB/McGraw Hill that compares students' scores to scores from a "norm group." The norm group for TerraNova is a national sample of students representing all gender, racial, economic, and geographic groups. DoDEA administers TerraNova to all students in grades 3-11 except those who have been approved for an alternate assessment. The assessments are administered in the spring of each school year, from the 29th to 31st week of instruction.

"We are extremely pleased with this year's TerraNova results," said Dr. Joe Tafoya, DoDEA Director. "The scores indicate our curriculum is rigorous and is properly aligned with assessments. The results also indicate that we are succeeding in our mission of helping students achieve their highest potential."

When compared with 2006 TerraNova results, overall, DoDEA students maintained their scores in reading and language arts. They achieved gains in mathematics, science, and social studies.

On the whole, DoDEA students scored 10-25 percentile points above the national average (50th percentile) in all subject areas for 2007. The NP represents the percentage of students in a norm group whose scores fall below an individual student or group average score. For example, if a student scored at the 68th percentile in math, that student scored higher than 68% of the students in the norm group.

The following table reports the percentile ranking of the average DoDEA student as compared to the National average, which is at the 50th percentile rank for all subjects and all grade levels.

2007 TerraNova Median National Percentiles for Grades 3-11

The National Average Is 50
Grade	Number Test-Takers	Median National Percentiles
		Reading	Language Arts	Math	Science	Social Studies
3rd	7824	60	64	65	69	64
4th	7176	65	66	66	65	69
5th	6827	67	68	65	66	64
6th	6434	65	66	69	67	68
7th	5796	62	71	66	64	62
8th	5435	69	67	68	66	65
9th	4723	74	67	70	69	65
10th	3873	71	75	72	68	66
11th	3402	75	71	71	71	68

CSP Goals: DoDEA Students Moving Closer to 2011 CSP Goals

The DoDEA 2006-2011 Community Strategic Plan (CSP) requires the reporting of student data by the percentage of students within each National Percentile quarter. The CSP has set the following high and challenging goals:

"Seventy-five percent of all students in grades 3-11 will perform "At the Standard level or higher" (the top two quarters) on a systemwide, norm-referenced assessment."

DoDEA students are moving closer to the goal of 75% of all students scoring at or above the 50th percentile as mandated by the CSP. The following table presents the 2006 and 2007 distribution of DoDEA students' test scores compared to the National sample group of students.

DoDEA Status of 2011 CSP Outcome Milestones

2006 & 2007 TerraNova Percentage of Students in the "At the Standard or Higher" Performance Levels The National "At the Standard or Higher" Average is 50%
Totals	Nation	DoDEA 2006	DoDEA 2007	DoDEA 2011 Goal
Reading	50%	71%	71%	75%
Language	50%	72%	72%	75%
Mathematics	50%	69%	70%	75%
Science	50%	69%	70%	75%
Social Studies	50%	69%	70%	75%

"Even though an increase of 3-5 percentage points is needed to reach our CSP goal of 75 percent, the percentage of DoDEA students scoring 'At the Standard Level or Higher' was at least twenty percentage points above the national average," said Dr. Janet Rope, DoDEA's Administrator, System Accountability and Research. "This year's TerraNova results have us on the right path to achieve our objective," she added.

The TerraNova Multiple Assessment is one of several system-wide assessments DoDEA administers to measure student performance so that inferences can be made about student achievement in basic skill areas and provide a source of information for decision-makers concerning programs and services offered. Results of these system-wide assessments help teachers determine the strengths and needs of students in order to work with them to improve their individual academic skills. The TerraNova provides accountability for DoDEA schools to help ensure all students are working towards achieving their highest potential. The TerraNova results also help parents know how their children scored in different academic subjects.

DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages the education programs for DoD dependents who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality public education. DoDEA consists of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) located overseas, and the Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) located in the United States and its territories and possessions. DoDEA provides education to eligible DoD military and civilian dependents from pre-kindergarten through grade 12.