Statement by Antonia Cortese, 
Executive Vice President of the American Federation of Teachers,
on the Nation’s Report Card (NAEP) for America’s High School Students

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The data released today underscore the challenges that AFT members face every day.  Addressing those challenges will take the joint effort of everyone from parents and teachers to state and federal legislators. It is the only way to meet the needs of students responsibly. We have no time to waste.

To start, we must make necessary changes to the NCLB law, which has narrowed the education curriculum to the point that crucial subjects are being left behind. We also should redouble our efforts to bridge the achievement gap, which persists for low-income students.

With respect to reading, we know we have been making progress in early instruction. Results at the high school level, meanwhile, have flatlined. Clearly, more needs to be done for older students. There should be constant monitoring of reading performance and a focus on massive early intervention. But we cannot wait until high school. As soon as students fall off-track, they should receive the assistance they need—and their teachers should be given the tools and support that implies. 

We also must emphasize more than just basic reading skills in the curriculum, because when it comes to developing strong readers, rich literature and content count. All students should be exposed to challenging reading material that will help build their vocabulary and broaden their knowledge base. These and other supports for older students are at the core of the resolution on adolescent literacy the AFT membership approved in July 2006.

Today’s reports also show encouraging trends in strengthening math instruction. We believe this is a very positive step and expect improved results for 12th-graders in the future. However, to help all children, other pieces must also be put in place. We should ensure instructional quality through strict teacher entry requirements, a rigorous induction program and ongoing professional development. 

In short, we should provide all our students with highly qualified teachers, excellent learning environments and testing that is aligned with strong standards and curricula. Those are the things that make a positive difference. We at the AFT remain committed to making them a part of every student’s academic experience.

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