SACRAMENTO—California’s eighth graders made the biggest gain in reading scores in the country last year, the 2013 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) shows, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today.

Also known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” the NAEP test is an ongoing, nationally representative assessment designed to evaluate what American students in grades four and eight know and can do in a variety of subjects, including reading and science. It was established by Congress in 1969.

via 2013 National Assessment of Educational Progress – Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education).