(09/21/06) PLAINVIEW - New York students? English skills worsen as they get older, according to results of the first statewide English exam released Thursday.

The trend shows 69 percent of third-graders met standards, while only 49 percent of eighth-graders passed. Long Island students performed markedly higher than their upstate peers, but the pattern was still evident. Nearly 85 percent of Nassau?s third-graders met state standards, while less than 70 percent of the county?s eighth-graders could say the same. Scores for Suffolk students were sandwiched between Nassau?s and the state average. More than 75 percent of Suffolk county third-graders made the grade, but only 61 percent of eighth-graders met or exceeded the English standards.

Plainview?s Parkway School Principal Ronelle Hershkowitz says that as children develop hormones, it is natural to expect distractions from their studies. State Department of Education Commissioner Richard Mills, however, says there is no excuse for students failing English tests. He says in order to increase reading ability, he will reevaluate training standards for teachers and adjust student curriculum.