Report: Indiana rates first for academic standards

Indiana education ranks first in the nation on the strength of its academic standards, assessments and accountability system, according to a new report.

Quality Counts 2007 found that Indiana's subject area standards are clear, specific and grounded in subject content. Assessments are aligned to standards at all levels for math and English, and the state has policies on school accountability, the annual report found.

Illinois ranked 25th among the 50 states in the same category.

The report also ranked Indiana eighth in efforts to connect education systems that cover kindergarten through 12th grade with early learning, higher education and the world of work, based on 15 key education policies.

Indiana is one of only 11 states that define college readiness and one of nine that require college preparation to earn a high school diploma, according to the report.

However, the state is also among a handful that do not define school readiness or assess the readiness of students entering school. Illinois ranked 25th.

Indiana ranked 30th on the report's Chance-for-Success index of 13 indicators. The state received points in the categories of family income, parental employment, high school graduation, steady employment and use of English by parents. The state lost points in preschool enrollment, kindergarten enrollment, post-secondary participation, parent education, adult educational attainment and annual income. Illinois ranked 12th.

The report ranked Indiana 31st in elementary and secondary performance, based on indicators related to reading and math performance, high school graduation rates and results on Advanced Placement exams. Illinois ranked 29th.

The report was published last week by Editorial Projects in Education, a nonprofit organization based in Bethesda, Md., focused on preschool through college education.