Chautauqua County third through eighth grade assessment proficiency has increase 2 percent in both English language arts and mathematics.

The data on the testing was released on Tuesday afternoon by the New York State Department of Education. In Chautauqua County, 34 percent of students scored as proficient in math, while in 2016 the rate was 32 percent. Likewise, ELA proficiency increased from 30 percent last year to 32 percent this year.

Statewide, the percentage of students proficient in ELA in grades three through eight increased 1.9 percent from 37.9 percent in 2016 to 39.8 percent this year, whereas the same figures for mathematics increased 1.1 percent from 39.1 percent to 40.2 percent this year.

New York State Department of Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said the increase was encouraging, but noted that there is still work to be done.

“Real progress takes time,” Elia said. “So, the test scores we’re announcing today are a positive sign that we continue to steadily head in the right direction.”

She said a “deliberate, inclusive and transparent approach” has been taken to develop the ESSA plan was well as to make changes to standards and assessments. Elia said she believes this approach to beneficial to the students.

Breaking down the figures, the data shows that across the state, black students saw a 2.8-percentage-point increase in proficiency while Hispanic students had a 2.4-percentage-point increase.

According to the commissioner, the increases were greater than those seen by white students, who experienced a 1.1 percentage-point increase statewide. The ELA achievement gap that separates three groups closed slightly, but Elia said the education department is committed to working to close the gap even more.

Elia said the test refusal rate, also known as the opt out rate, decreased from last year as well. The statewide rate fell from 21 percent in 2016 to 19 percent in 2017. She said in 2017, the students who refused to take the assessments were more likely to be from low-need or average need districts, white, economically advantaged and less likely to be an English Language Learner or English as a Second Language student.

Timothy G. Kremer, New York State School Board Association executive director, said the results represent a “mixed bag.” He said the good news is that there were gains in proficiency from all grades combined in both ELA and math. Also, he said it is positive that fewer students opted out.

“The bad news (is) only about four in 10 students are proficient,” Kremer said. “The Board of Regents has indicated that their plan under the “Every Student Succeeds Act” will help schools improve student outcomes. Local school boards can and will chart a course toward higher education levels of proficiency that will require a strong commitment from students, parents and educators as well as the proper support and funding from state lawmakers and education policymakers.”