While state math test scores make it seem students are doing better in the subject, results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, released today indicate otherwise.

The study shows that students in New York State have made no progress in math over the past two years.

According to the state tests, fourth grade math scores rose nine point and eighth grade math scores rose 18 points. But the national test showed no improvement at all for those same grades.

The NAEP is considered to be the only solid measure on whether state tests are accurate.

At least one educator who spoke to NY1 said the discrepancy could mean what students are learning is not so much math as how to take state math tests.

“The state tests cover less material and schools have learned to teach to the content of those tests, which makes it appear that students are learning more, but, in fact, it is really an illusion,” said Dr. Aaron Pallas of Teachers College.

Dr. Pallas said the results raise serious questions about whether the rapid improvement that state and city officials have been pointing to, really hold up.

It’s worth highlighting that while all students take the state test, only a sample takes the NAEP. Federal officials said the New York results showed no statistically significant change.

The new New York State Department of Education commissioner, David Steiner, issued a statement saying he was greatly concerned by the NAEP scores and, in particular, the discrepancies between the state and national results. He said that he would be taking action, raising the standards of the state test and revising its design, to keep test preparation from skewing the results.

Only the state-by-state math scores were released today. English scores , and data on how city students performed in both subjects, is expected in the next month or so.

Source: NY1