School report shows dip in math scores for Kansas students

? Kansas schoolchildren are faring worse on a test known as the nation’s report card.

The state’s performance dip follows a national trend of falling scores on the National Assessment of Educational progress. The scores were released Wednesday. They show that the math scores of Kansas fourth and eighth graders slipped over the last two years, which is similar to what happened with students nationally. Reading scores dropped slightly for Kansas fourth graders, while nationally they were flat. Among eighth graders, reading scores held steady in Kansas and were lower nationally.

Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson said in a statement that the reason for the decrease isn’t clear. But he added that state officials would “take it seriously.”

Gov. Sam Brownback says the scores “reflect the need for real education reform.”