Associated Press – The Department of Education has released its National Assessment of Educational Progress, which, when it comes to science, contains good news and bad news. Scores for 8^th graders improved by two points nationwide, from 150 in 2009 to 152 this year. Only 31%, however, were considered proficient and only 2% were deemed advanced enough to consider a science career. Sixteen of the 47 states who participated in NAEP saw increased scores, with the majority remaining flat. Mississippi had the lowest score, with no students finishing in the advanced category. Montana and North Dakota finished with the highest scores. The NAEP results indicate that American students continue to struggle against their foreign peers in the sciences, which could affect employability, job growth and the American economic landscape in the future. For more, read 8^th-Grade Students in US See Slight Gains on Science Test, but Most Still Below Proficiency.