Panel looks to better middle school scores in South

PINEHURST, NC (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue and other southern officials are discussing how improving middle school achievement will get students ready for high school.

The Southern Regional Education Board meets in Pinehurst on Monday. Perdue is wrapping up as the chairwoman of the organization working on improving students’ college and career readiness.

Education leaders believe schools must improve the number of students equipped to go on to college or technical training after high school as global competition increases. The problem is that too many children fall behind in lower grades and drop out in 9th grade. Students need to read well to keep going.

Data collected in the National Assessment of Educational Progress show that proficient 8th grade readers in the 16 Southern states tended to be below the national average.

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