Hawaii's fourth- and eighth-graders continue to lag behind their Mainland peers in math even though they have been making steady progress on a key standardized test since 2000.

Results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress exam were released yesterday and showed Hawaii's fourth-graders improved from 2007, the last time the test was administered. Eighth-graders' scores were also higher.

"The trend in Hawaii has been gains, but slower than what we're seeing on the national level," said Robert Hillier, NAEP coordinator for the state Department of Education. "We're very pleased with this. It's not a significant gain, but it still is a gain," he said.

Schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto said the scores show continued growth by Hawaii students.

"While there is still work to be done, it is evident that standards-based learning in the classroom is making a difference as demonstrated by the continued growth in Hawaii's NAEP scores in mathematics," Hamamoto said in a news release.

Board of Education Chairman Garrett Toguchi expressed his concern about effects budget cuts and furloughs could have on progress on the national assessment and achievement.

"It will be critical for the state to strengthen its support of public schools to help our educators maintain and accelerate this healthy trend in test scores," he said.

The NAEP, known commonly as the "Nation's Report Card," is a battery of tests examined under the federal No Child Left Behind law, which requires that all students be at grade level in core subject areas by 2014. It's one of the only exams administered in every state and is comparable across state lines.

This year, NAEP measured mathematics, while NAEP results for reading and science will be released next year.

Nationally, the fourth-graders made no progress, while eighth-graders posted just slight gains, which troubled federal officials.

MOST NOT PROFICIENT

Even though progress nationally was minimal this year, Hawaii students still lagged behind their Mainland peers.

About 37 percent of Hawaii's fourth-grade students are "proficient" or "advanced" at math, compared with 38 percent nationally, according to the results.

Proficient is described as having "solid academic performance and demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter."

About 77 percent demonstrated "basic" or above math skills on the NAEP, compared with 81 percent nationally. Basic is described as having "partial mastery of grade-level knowledge and skills." The percentage of the state's fourth-graders at or above basic was unchanged from 2007, but reflects an increase of 23 points since 2000.

The fourth-grade average score bumped up slightly, from 234 to 236, while the national average score stayed flat at 239.

SUBSTANTIAL BOOST

The story was different for eighth-graders, who posted a substantial increase in average score — from 269 to 274 — while the national average score saw just a small bump, from 280 to 282.

About 25 percent of Hawaii's eighth-grade students are "proficient" or "advanced" at math, compared with 33 percent nationally, according to the results.

Similarly, 65 percent demonstrated "basic" or above math skills on the NAEP, compared with 71 percent nationally. That reflects a 6 percent increase over last year in the percentage of students at or above basic level, and a 14-point increase since 2000. Nationally, the percentage at or above basic only increased by one percentage point.

For grade eight, the gratifying news was students improved their scores at a rate faster than the national gains, Hillier said.

"In prior years, Hawaii's grade eight NAEP math scores had been showing gains most cycles, but at a lower rate than the national gains,"he said.

Hillier said the steady increases in NAEP scores since 2000 can be attributed to the state educators becoming better at "standards-based" teaching.

"Standards-based means education, curriculum, instruction, assessments are aligned,"he said. "There is a real clear sense of direction."