How negative news becomes positive with the spin of political operatives

SCHOOLS CHIEF JACK O’CONNELL COMMENTS ON CALIFORNIA STUDENT PERFORMANCE ON SAT TEST

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell today issued the following statement regarding student progress on the SAT:

"Young people in our schools today face an increasingly demanding and competitive global economy once they graduate. Strong communications skills, critical thinking skills, and math skills are essential to their success.

"While the mean SAT score in math and critical reading in California did not increase this year, California students did outpace the national average on the written portion of the SAT. This is the first year that writing is included in this exam.

"I am pleased that many more ethnic minority students in our state are taking the SAT than ever before, and that overall more of our test takers are also taking four or more years of English-language arts and mathematics coursework during their high school careers. These are very positive trends that show students are working hard to attain the higher level skills that will help them survive and thrive in the global economy of the 21st century."

For more information on SAT results, please see: http://www.collegeboard.com/press/releases/150054.html (Outside Source).