Maryland leads nation in reading and math improvement

ATLANTA - Maryland significantly improved public education by several key measures in the last decade.  This is according to a new report from the Southern Regional Education Board.  It covers 16 states including Maryland.

SREB states led the nation in gains since 2002 in areas such as student reading, math achievement and high school graduation rates.  Maryland served more than twice as many children in public pre-k as it has children living in poverty in 2010.

It helped more of its neediest children get ready for school.  Maryland led the nation in improving the percentages of fourth graders scoring at or above the proficient level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress from 2003 to 2011 in reading and math.

Student participation rates in Advanced Placement in Maryland and pass rates on AP exams exceeded national rates in 2011.