Md. Students Show Improvements in Reading

Maryland's fourth- and eighth-graders each showed improvements in reading, compared to results from when they took tests two years ago.

Maryland's fourth-grade students improved in math, but eighth-grade students scored the same, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Education Tuesday.

In 2009, 37 percent of fourth-graders scored at or above reading proficiency levels. That improved to 43 percent in 2011. In math, 44 percent of fourth-graders made the grade. That jumped to 48 percent this year. Nationally, 32 percent of fourth-graders met the levels in reading and 40 percent in math.

For Maryland eighth-graders, 36 percent met reading standards in 2009. In 2011, that increased to 40 percent. That compares to 32 percent nationally.

For both 2009 and 2011, 40 percent of eighth-graders met the math standards.