Students in California improved their scores on an annual statewide exam but most still aren't meeting the more challenging standards for math and reading.
Scores released Wednesday show 37 percent of students tested as meeting or exceeding the state's math standards on the Smarter Balanced exam. Reading scores were higher: 49 percent across all grades meeting or exceeding standards in English.
Students in California and many other states across the nation took the new Common Core-aligned exam by computer for the first time last year.
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said rising scores can be attributed to more familiarity with taking the test online, an extra year of teaching the new state standards and improvements in technology.
