Cord Byrd: “I have recently drawn much attention to the results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study, released…”

“I have recently drawn much attention to the results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study, released in February of this year. My visceral, my visceral reaction to the poor scores of high school seniors on the mathematics and science portions of this exam was one of great dismay and disbelief. How could United States students be performing so poorly given the massive amounts of money invested each year in our nation's education system? My spirits have since been lifted in the past month when hearing about the progress that my own home state of West Virginia is making on the education front. In my years as a United States Senator, my state has been scoffed at more times than I can remember, or want to remember. Well, today, I come to the floor to boast a little bit about what we are accomplishing back in the mountains and foothills of West Virginia. For the second time in a row, West Virginia has posted the highest education marks of any state in the 'Quality Counts' report released annually by Education Week magazine.”