HARRISBURG (CBS) – Fewer schools made “adequate yearly progress” in Pennsylvania, even though student performance on statewide math and reading assessment tests improved slightly this year.

Tim Eller, Pennsylvania Department of Education spokesman, says on performance tests given in grades 3-8 and grade 11, 77.1 percent of students were proficient or advanced in math. That is an increase of less than one point over the previous year

Also, 73.5 percent were proficient or advanced in reading. That is an increase of 1.5 percent.

Despite the slight increase, fewer Pennsylvania schools made “adequate yearly progress” required by the ‘No Child Left Behind’ law. One reason for the decrease as that the AYP standards increased this year.

“Performance targets for math in 2010 were 56 percent and this year that went up to 67 percent,” Eller explained. “The 2010 reading target was 63 percent and the 2011 reading target was 72 percent.”

This year, 249 fewer schools made “adequate yearly progress.”

Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio 1060