NASHVILLE (AP) - Education officials say students have continued to perform better on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program since the state implemented more rigorous standards nearly four years ago.

Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman said Thursday that students across the state performed better on the TCAP tests this year than last year, marking three consecutive years of steady improvement.

Since 2009, he said more than half the students in third through eighth grades are on grade level in every TCAP achievement subject.

He said they reached higher levels of proficiency this year on 22 of 24 tested subjects than last year.

Tennessee became one of the first states to win national Race to the Top funding in 2009 and immediately began using the funds to implement tougher standards for students.