New Jersey’s 2009 NAEP (National Assessment for Education Progress) reading scores are hot off the press. Look here for 4th graders and here for 8th graders. Scores appear basically flat from 2007, which is either good or bad news depending on your point of view. NJ’s achievement gap remains steady. For 4th graders, Black students scored 25 points lower than White Students, Hispanic kids scored 24 points lower and students eligible for free and reduced lunch scored 26 points lower. For 8th graders, Black students had an average score 31 points lower than White students, Hispanic students scored 25 points lower and children eligible for free and reduced lunch scored 27 points lower.