Native American students trail in math, reading

Native American students continue to trail their peers in math and reading proficiency.

The U.S. Department of Education's National Indian Education Study released Tuesday found Native American students scored 19 points lower on average in reading in fourth grade.

Results from the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Process also found significant gaps for Native American fourth- and eighth-grade students in math.

The achievement gap in math was larger than in 2005. The scores of Native American students did not change significantly, but those of non-Native American students increased.

Reading scores were about the same as they were in 2009.

Native American students make up 1 percent of all students in grades four and eight nationwide.