The analysis of 1992 through 2003 data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress measures proficiency in two subject areas - reading and math - and compares Utah numbers with both national statistics and the performances in surrounding Western states.

NAEP, which evaluates student achievement in grades four, eight and 12, began tracking national student performances in 1969 and individual state performances in 1992. Fewer than 3,000 Utah fourth-graders from fewer than 55 schools participated in the most recent 2003 testing.

The results: Utah is lagging behind.

Nationally, 39 percent of fourth-grade Anglos are proficient in reading. In Utah, 35 percent achieved proficiency. Among Latinos, the national number is 14 percent, versus Utah's figure of 11 percent - a 3 percent drop from the state's performance level in 2002.

In math testing, 42 percent of the nation's fourth-grade Anglos were considered proficient, versus 35 percent of Utah's Anglos. And while 15 percent of Latinos nationwide earned proficiency, 11 percent of Utah's Latinos did the same.

Frank Cordova, director of the advocacy group Utah Coalition of La Raza, said he has been worrying about the gap since his days as a student leader at the University of Utah 25 years ago. And while the study provides a limited look at the problem, he said it was helpful in giving "a taste of what's going on."

Heightened concerns and public outcry about the achievement gap are forcing officials to look at the problems more closely, said Cordova, who is sitting on Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s new task force to study the issue.

"This is probably the first time they're really going to look at this situation and hopefully deal with it."

Among neighboring states, Wyoming had the smallest achievement gap between Anglos and Latinos. Only Colorado had a wider gap in reading proficiency than Utah, although Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico had a greater disparity than the Beehive State when it came to the math figures.

The full achievement-gap report can be accessed on the USOE's home page at http://www.schools.utah.gov.

jravitz@sltrib.com