Gains on Student Performance Tests in Maryland Reported

By Lynn Olson

School reform is starting to pay off in Maryland--with across-the-board gains for students in almost all grades and subjects, recent test results indicate.

But despite the progress, nearly two-thirds of students still cannot meet the rigorous standards set by the state in 1989.

Maryland released its fifth annual report card on the state's schools Dec. 12. In addition to information on dropout and attendance rates, it contains results from the Maryland Functional Tests, taken by high school students, and the Maryland School Performance Assessments, taken by 3rd,...