News Release Contacts: Robert T. Tad Perry, Executive Director tadp@ris.sdbor.edu Tracy Mercer, Information Research Analyst tracym@ris.sdbor.edu T: 605.773.3455 F: 605.773.5320 www.ris.sdbor.edu

Regents Hear Results of Spring 1999 Proficiency Exams

South Dakota Students Exceed National Averages in All Subject Areas

SIOUX FALLS - The South Dakota Board of Regents, at its regular business meeting at the South Dakota School for the Deaf, heard a report today on the results of the spring administration of the proficiency examinations taken by sophomores enrolled in the six regental universities.

"The results of the proficiency exam have once again shown us that students in South Dakota are receiving a superior education. The average scores of students within the South Dakota public university system exceeded national scores in all four subject areas, said Regents President Harvey C. Jewett, IV.

The passing rates for students taking the proficiency examination for the first time in Spring 1999 were 99.9% in science reasoning, 99.4% in mathematics, 96.9% in reading and 95.6% in writing skills.

"It is important for us to see the value we are adding to our students. Through the exam we now can identify the areas in which students may require further instruction and offer them remediation," said Regents Executive Director Robert T. Tad Perry.

Compared to national scores, South Dakota students’ strength continues to be in the areas of mathematics and science reasoning. In mathematics 79.5% of the students testing for the first time in Spring 1999 scored at or above the national mean and 76.5% scored at or above the national mean in science reasoning. In the areas of writing skills and reading 63% and 68% of South Dakota students scored at or above the national mean, respectively.

A system wide total of 1,963 students were required to sit for the proficiency exam for the first time in Spring 1999. Only 1.7% of the students who were required to take the exam did not. In addition to the students testing for the first time, there were 129 students who re-tested for the first time in Spring in 1999. More than three-quarters of those students (79.8%) obtained acceptable scores. An additional 46 students took the test for the third time in Spring 1999. Nearly two thirds of these students (65.2%) obtained acceptable scores.

Attached are tables displaying the comparisons of South Dakota students to their reference groups.

Summary of Student Performance

Comparison of Average Test Score: South Dakota Mean to National Mean
First-Time Test-Takers: Spring 1998-1999

Percent of SD Students Scoring at or Above the National Mean
Students Testing for the First Time Spring 1999

 Percent of Students Scoring at or above the 99^th Percentile by Test
Students Testing for the First Time Spring 1999

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