(Guest Post by Matthew Ladner)
Ok so there is this thing inside Microsoft Excel called a “macro” and today I had Dr. Youtube teach me how to do it so I can make data labels without manually typing them in. Next step- learn how to set a VCR DVR to record!
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It might be helpful any time you present these type of charts to footnote them with “NAEP in grades 4 & 8 is graded on the same scale, where 10-11 points gain approximately equal a ‘grade level’ worth of learning. In other words, a cohort in an average state is expected to gain about 40 points in both Reading and Math between grade 4 and 8.” Or something to that effect. (It was 41 points in Math and 44 in Reading between 2011 and 2015).
The problem is that an average reader looks at the numbers and may think “Great! Every state makes a significant progress of 40+ points, so what the big deal about one state being just 6 points ahead of another?”
good disclaimer- will try to include.