Balt. Sun: State test scores decline significantly

Maryland test scores declined significantly for the first time in more than a decade, a drop officials attributed to the beginning of a tumultuous time in public education that will bring changes to what is taught and how teachers are evaluated.
The test score decreases in both elementary and middle schools were seen in nearly every school district and at nearly every grade level and were as great in the higher performing districts of Howard and Montgomery counties as they were in Baltimore City. Students did worst in math, with state scores dropping an average of 4 percentage points at both the elementary and middle school grades.

Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/blog/bs-md-test-scores-20130723,0,3652885.story#ixzz2ZtMkoUug