Topeka ? The Kansas school system ranks among the nation’s leaders in academic achievement of students and return on investment on funds spent on education, according to a new report commissioned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

But the “Leaders and Laggards: State Report Cards” study gave Kansas lower grades in several other areas, such as giving principals flexibility in managing schools.

Overall, the report cited problems across the nation in the lack of reliable data from states on education measurements. And the report said the academic performance of every state needs to improve.

The study analyzed the kindergarten through 12th grade school systems in the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Kansas received A’s in academic achievement, academic achievement of low-income and minority students, and return on investment. Kansas received C’s for truth in advertising about student proficiency, post-secondary and workforce readiness, teacher workforce policies, and data quality, and D’s on rigors of standards and flexibility in management.

The chamber’s partners in the report card effort were the Center for American Progress, a research and educational institute led by former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta; and Frederick M. Hess, Director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research.