For Immediate Release, January 9, 2007

For More Information Contact:

Jonathan Burman or Tom Dunn at (518) 474-1201

Internet:  http://www.nysed.gov

Education Week’s Quality Counts Rates New York First Overall

In New Report on the State of Education 

              In its annual report on PreK-12 education, Education Week today reported that New York, followed by Massachusetts and Maryland, received the highest grades overall. 

              Education Week rated states in several specific categories, as well as overall. New York received an A in Standards, Assessment and Accountability and an A in Transitions and Alignment from preschool through higher education.

              New York was above the national average in each category. For The Teaching Profession New York received only a C+ (versus a C for the nation), but New York scored an A- for accountability for quality of teachers.

              New York received a B+ for School Finance.

              New York got a B under Chance for Success, which measures demographic criteria such as parental education and income.

              Finally, New York received a C- for K-12 Achievement (versus a D+ for the nation).

              State Education Commissioner Richard Mills said, “New York’s ratings overall show we are taking the right steps to reform education, improve achievement overall, and close the achievement gap, and remind us how much we still need to do.”

- 30 -