" Good morning this is mayor Mike Bloomberg New York City public school students and the teachers principals are getting a well deserved holiday tomorrow. On Tuesday it'll be back to class for the final week for what's been a successful school year the state reading test results released early this month. Underscore. The striking progress that our students have made. They show the price setting standard instituting accountability and investing in teacher quality we're putting our schools on the right track. Today nearly 70% of students in grades three to eight meet or exceed great -- standards in reading it's far far cry from where things stood back in 2002. When our administration launched its school reform efforts and when you analyze the test results three -- really stand out. First we're seeing consistent progress here -- year across all grades back in 2002 for example. Fewer than half of fourth grade students were working patter about grade level today more than two thirds are. In the eighth grade fewer than 30% of students working -- bomb grade level seven years ago -- 57%. Are in fact this year we saw very heartening double digit gains on the state reading test among our middle school students with performances often -- in the past that shows that the emphasis for putting -- standards and improving instruction in middle schools in partnership with our City Council. Is really producing results. Second near city public school students gaining students in the rest of the -- the same reading -- were administered in schools from my integrity north -- headway made by our students outpaced the statewide average it was great event that made by students in our affluent suburban schools. That continues the pattern set since 2002. Over the past seven years for example. Our fourth graders have raised reading scores roughly twice as fast as fourth graders statewide. Third African American and Hispanic students are continuing to narrow the racial achievement gap in the classrooms that has long been a disgraceful fact of life and our city. While still too -- wide this gap is being steadily cut down and this -- progress was the greatest he had students for whom English is not their first flight which also made very impressive strides the percentage were working at or above grade level has more than tripled in the past three years. Achieving such remarkable results was most definitely a team effort so want to extend my warmest congratulations to everyone concerned. Teachers principals school staff and especially our students. Now enjoy your Memorial Day remember those who sacrificed everything so that we can be safe and free. And thank those now and armed forces were in New York City for fleet week. Classes resume on Tuesday I'm confident that -- all keep up the good work and put on an impressive academic sprint across the finish line of this school year this is mayor Mike Bloomberg. Thanks -- listening."