AUSTIN (February 21, 2013)--A new federal report says Texas public school students outscored the country in science and math, but says the state fell behind on literacy, even after excluding the scores of students learning English as a second language.
The Mega-States report released on Thursday by the National Center for Education Statistics examined the five most populous states, Texas, New York, Illinois, Florida and California.
Among them, Texas spends the least money per student.
Michael L. Williams, commissioner of the Texas Education Agency, said the gains in math and science would put the state on a path to meet growing job needs.
But on the reading tests, Texas eighth-graders made no progress, while the national score increased.
Williams said the state "will continue working to aim higher and accomplish more."
