The National Center for Educational Progress (NAEP) has released 2009 reading scores for 4th and 8th graders (links are for NJ). Across the country 4th grade scores were flat while 8th grade scores were up slightly. In New Jersey, our 4th graders scored two points lower than in 2007 and our 8th graders went up 3 points from 2007. There was no meaningful change in NJ’s achievement gap: in 4th grade, black students scored 25 points lower than whites, Hispanic children scored 24 points lower, and low-income students scored 26 points lower. Black 8th graders scored 31 points lower than white 8th graders, Hispanics scored 25 points lower, and low-income kids scored 27 points lower.