NOTES ABOUT THE 1999 FINDINGS: ALASKA
These pages present highlights for your state from the 1999 National Education Goals Report and the companion 1999 Data Volume. The annual Goals Report uses 27 national and 34 state-level indicators to measure progress made toward the eight National Education Goals since 1990, when the Goals were established.
This fact sheet summarizes your state’s progress in key educational areas during the 1990s. Please note the following points:
Goal 3: Student Achievement and Citizenship
Goal 1: Ready to Learn
Goal 2: School Completion
Goal 3: Student Achievement and Citizenship
Goal 5: Mathematics and Science
7. Types of information presented: Four categories of information are provided for your state:
a. Highest-Performing States are states that have performed well in comparison to others. This does not mean that the Goals Panel considers performance in these states to be as high as it should be in order to meet the Goal. It is simply a means of recognizing those states that are doing particularly well relative to others, and that are closest to achieving the Goal by this measure of progress.
b. Most-Improved States are those that made the greatest improvements over time. These states may not yet be among the highest-performing states in the nation, but they were the most successful at pushing their performance in the right direction. "Most-improved" does not necessarily mean that the Goals Panel considers the amount of progress made to be sufficient. It is simply a means of recognizing those states that have made the greatest progress toward the Goal by this measure.
c. Areas of Improvement lists each area in which your state’s performance has improved, compared to where it stood at the beginning of the decade.
d. Areas of Decline lists each area in which your state’s performance has declined, compared to where it stood at the beginning of the decade.
Copies of both reports are available on the Goals Panel’s Web site, at www.negp.gov
ALASKA – Data Highlights
1999 National Education Goals Report
I. HIGHEST-PERFORMING
Alaska placed among the highest-performing states in the nation on 7 measures of progress during the 1990s:
Goal 1: Ready to Learn
1. the percentage of infants born at low birthweight (6%);
Goal 3: Student Achievement and Citizenship
2. the percentage of public school 8th graders who are proficient in mathematics (30%);
Goal 4: Teacher Education and Professional Development
3. the percentage of public school teachers reporting that they participated in in-service or professional development programs (90%);
4. the percentage of public school teachers with training to teach limited English proficient students (33%);
Goal 5: Mathematics and Science
5. the percentage of public school 8th graders whose mathematics teachers report that they have computers available in their mathematics classrooms (50%);
Goal 6: Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning
6. the percentage of U.S. citizens who reported that they registered to vote (77%); and
Goal 8: Parental Participation
7. the percentage of public school principals reporting that the parent associations in their schools have influence on school policy (43%).
II. MOST-IMPROVED
Alaska placed among the most-improved states in the nation on 1 measure of progress during the 1990s:
Goal 8: Parental Participation
1. increasing the percentage of public school principals reporting that the parent associations in their schools have influence on school policy.
III. AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT
Alaska improved on 6 measures of progress toward the Goals during the 1990s:
Goal 1: Ready to Learn
3- to 5-year-olds in 1998).
Goal 3: Student Achievement and Citizenship
Goal 5: Mathematics and Science
3. Alaska increased the proportion of degrees awarded in mathematics and science to all students (from 34% in 1991, to 40% in 1996).
4. Alaska increased the proportion of degrees awarded in mathematics and science to female students (from 28% in 1991, to 34% in 1996).
Goal 6: Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning
5. Alaska increased the percentage of high school graduates who immediately enrolled in college in any state (from 39% in 1992, to 41% in 1996).
Goal 8: Parental Participation
6. Alaska increased the percentage of public school principals reporting that the parent associations in their schools have influence on school policy (from 27% in 1991, to 43% in 1994).
IV. AREAS OF DECLINE
There are 3 measures of progress where Alaska’s performance has declined during the 1990s:
Goal 1: Ready to Learn
Goal 7: Safe, Disciplined, and Alcohol- and Drug-free Schools
2. The percentage of public secondary school teachers who reported that student disruptions interfered with their teaching increased (from 35% in 1991, to 46% in 1994).
Goal 8: Parental Participation
3. The percentage of public school teachers reporting that lack of parental involvement in their schools is a serious problem increased (from 25% in 1991, to 32% in 1994).
This information may be viewed on-line: www.negp.gov/issues/publication/99statefact/ak.htm