PA Governor Rendell Says Standard & Poor's Study Shows Pennsylvania Students Benefiting from Targeted Investments in Education.

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- An independent study by a renowned firm confirms that more than 160,000 students in 48 Pennsylvania schools are benefiting from investments in early childhood education, pre-k, full-day kindergarten and high school reform, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

Standard & Poor's School Evaluation Services says the students attending the schools, which are located in 42 districts in 25 counties, have made significant progress narrowing achievement gaps and improving proficiency rates compared to other states.

"Standard & Poor's recognition of what is happening in Pennsylvania is fantastic news and I congratulate these schools for their hard work and commitment to ensuring every child is provided a quality education," the Governor said. "We have worked hard to provide a first-class system of education by investing in quality, proven programs that support student achievement. Over the past three years, student test scores have increased in reading and math in all grades and among all groups of students.

"We are recognized as one of only seven states that have made simultaneous improvements in our elementary reading and math programs."

Pennsylvania's inroads in achievement and proficiency…