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Advanced implies superior performance.; The percentage of students that achieved a scale score in the subject of Reading at or above the level of Basic.

Basic implies partial mastery of prerequisite knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work at each grade.; The percentage of students that achieved a scale score in the subject of Writing at or above the level of Proficient.

Proficient implies solid academic performance for each grade assessed. Students reaching this level have demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter, including subject-matter knowledge, application of such knowledge to real-world situations, and analytical skills appropriate to the subject matter.; For each different subject, NAEP creates a scale score based on statistical procedures called item response theory (IRT). IRT is a set of statistical procedures useful in summarizing student performance across a collection of test exercises requiring similar knowledge and skills. All NAEP subject area scales are produced using these procedures. In Math and Reading, NAEP creates a scale ranging from 0-500. In Science and Writing, NAEP creates a scale ranging from 0-300. ; Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher.; "This fourth Smartest State designation is awarded based on 21 factors chosen from Morgan Quitno’s annual reference book, Education State Rankings, 2005-2006. Featuring four new factors, this year’s award de-emphasizes spending for public schools and instead measures states based on student achievement, positive outcomes and personal attention from teachers." - Morgan Quitno Press; The total count of students eligible to participate in the Free Lunch Program under the National School Act. The Free Lunch program provides cash subsidies for free and reduced-price lunches to students based on family size and income criteria. ; The calculated Pupil Teacher Ratio: The total reported students divided by the FTE classroom teachers.; The total number of Black, Non-Hispanic students enrolled in public school in the state. These data are taken from the CCD State Nonfiscal survey. ; Total current expenditures for public elementary and secondary education, grades prekindergarten through grade 12, including ungraded students. Expenditures for equipment, non-public education, school construction, debt financing and community services are excluded from this data item. Expenditures by state governments for and on behalf of LEAs are included in these expenditures, and all other expenditures here. This is the sum of expenditures for Instruction, Support Services, and Non-instructional Services (excluding Community Services) and Direct Program Support (excluding Support for Private school Students), and excludes Property expenditures. These data are taken from the CCD National Public Education Financial Survey. ; Percentage of population over 25 years old with a high school degree or higher.; Percent of People 25 Years and Over Who Have Completed a Bachelor's Degree, 2004 ; Percent of People 25 Years and Over Who Have Completed an Advanced Degree, 2004 ; This is the number of bachelors' degrees awarded. A baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, is an award that normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes all bachelor's degrees conferred in a 5-year cooperative (work-study) program. A cooperative plan provides for alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government; thus, it allows students to combine actual work experience with their college studies. Also includes bachelor's degrees in which the normal 4 years of work are completed in 3 years.; This is the number of masters' degrees awarded. A Masters is an award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of at least the full-time equivalent of 1 but not more than 2 academic years of work beyond the bachelor's degree.; Library visits per capita is found by dividing the number of library visits by the unduplicated population of the legal service area. ; Number of traveling branch libraries.

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