Fewer NC students pass end-of-year reading test

RALEIGH -- Far fewer North Carolina students passed end-of-the-year reading tests this year, as the test became harder.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported the test was given to students in grades 3 through 8 last spring. The newspaper reported Friday that fewer schools are likely to meet the progress goals under the federal No Child Left Behind law because of the results.

While nearly 84 percent of third-graders passed the test in 2007, only 56 percent did this year. Nearly 90 percent of 8th grade students passed in 2007, just 55 percent did in 2008.

The State Board of Education adopted the new standards for passing the test on Thursday. The results don't affect individual students and won't cause teachers to lose bonus money.

Results for individual schools won't be ready until Nov. 1.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)