Study ranks Tennessee No. 1 in education standards nationwide

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Tennessee is the top-rated state in an education study, focusing on closing the gap in test scores.

Education Next released the study Tuesday, comparing the differences in test results between the TNReady test and the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP). For Tennessee, the test results were even across the board, not only narrowing the gap but essentially eliminating it.

"Our students are growing to meet our high expectations where other states have stayed flat, and we've closed the 'honesty gap' more than any other state,"

Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Candice McQueen said.

On top of closing the "honesty gap," for the first time ever, Education Next authors scored Tennessee an "A" for the states academic standards. This is a jump from last year's "B" or "B-" and an even larger difference from 2009's "F."

The decade-long goal was set to help better prepare students for post-graduation transitions, whether that be post-secondary education or the workforce.

This is the first year that the study results were based on the new TNReady test and not the old state TCAP exam.

Anyone who wants to read more about the study can do so here.