A new national assessment showed California schools improving slightly, but still scoring below the national average on most subjects. The National Assessment of Educational Progress periodically evaluates fourth and eighth grade achievement.
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said the new Common Core teaching standards will eventually bring California back up among the highest testing states.
"Now with these new standards and I believe, new learning methodology and professional development we're investing in, to have teachers be able to move into this new type of teaching, we're going to see great results and I think scores will keep going up."
Common Core focuses on teaching critical thinking skills over rote memorization. California remains in the NAEP "basic" achievement level in most subjects. The two highest levels are "advanced" and "proficient."
