ST. PAUL — The latest national figures show Minnesota students’ performance in math and reading this year was mostly stagnant or declined from 2013.

The results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress released Wednesday say Minnesota fourth-graders’ scores in math and reading dropped from record highs in 2013, the Star Tribune reports. No significant improvement was shown by Minnesota eighth-graders in reading and math scores.

Overall, Minnesota students’ performance on the assessment, also known as the Nation’s Report Card, was among the country’s best. Nationally, math scores slipped, and reading grades were flat for fourth-graders and lower for eighth-graders.

The stagnant scores show Minnesota needs more of a focus on early literacy, Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius said.

An achievement gap remains in scores between white and minority students in Minnesota, worse than the national average in nearly every measure, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.