Writing scores for Utah students in 2009 remain fairly steady, but data show Hispanic and lower-income students continue to struggle with writing skills, according to numbers released by the State Office of Education Friday.

The Direct Writing Assessment is a paper and pencil exam given to sixth- and ninth-graders each spring. The essay question changes each year, which could cause some variation in test scores when compared year to year.

The DWA will be replaced by an online version for fifth- and eighth-graders in spring 2010.

A total 67 percent of Utah's 41,340 sixth-graders are proficient this year, compared to 66 percent in 2008 and 76 percent in 2007, according to the data.

Eighty-five percent of the state's 38,618 ninth-graders are proficient this year. In 2008, ninth-graders were at 87 percent and the figure was 85 percent the previous year, according to this year's data.

John Jesse, State Office of Education assessment director, said the gap between groups of students in the state can be seen in all test data. He and other education leaders continue to work toward minimizing that divide, he said.

"Writing is so key," Jesse said. "All students need an opportunity to be able to write effectively before they leave our system. No matter what they are going to do in life, they have to be able to write to be successful in our current society."

Only 55 percent of Hispanic students are proficient in sixth grade and 71 percent in ninth grade. This compares to 69 percent of Caucasian students for sixth grade and 88 percent for ninth grade. Asian students scored well above the state average, with 73 percent proficient in sixth grade and 86 percent in ninth grade.

English language learner students in the sixth grade scored at 51 percent proficient, while ELL ninth-graders are at 63 percent proficient.

Economically disadvantaged students, those in the lower income bracket eligible for free and reduced lunch, are at 57 percent in the sixth grade and 75 percent in the ninth grade.

Fifty-six percent of migrant students, whose parents do seasonal work, scored proficient in sixth grade and 56 percent in ninth grade. Forty-six percent of mobile students, who are in school fewer than 160 days, are proficient in sixth grade and 56 percent in ninth grade.

Girls continue to outpace boys in writing, according to the writing assessment results. A total 75 percent of sixth-grade female students scored proficient, compared to 58 percent of male students. By ninth grade, however, the gap is smaller: female students are at 88 percent proficiency, with male students at 81 percent.