The study, “Achievement Growth: International and U.S. State Trends in Student Performance,”  put Maine second from the bottom among states for test score improvement between 1992 and 2011.

Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday said he’s calling on the education commissioner, school administrators and teachers’ unions to implement new educational practices focused on student learning.

While Maine ranks above the national average in school test scores, LePage said he was disappointed that test scores have shown little improvement in the past 20 years.

“Clearly, the status quo in education is not working,” the governor said in a prepared statement.

He said the study also shows that spending more on education does not always equal better student achievement.

“In fact, while Maine spent $4,000 more per student from 1990 to 2009 — well above the average for the states — student achievement gains were the second worst in the country,” LePage said.

Florida, Colorado and North Carolina increased their spending by less than the national average and all showed increases in student achievement above the national average, according to a news release.

Maine, West Virginia and New Mexico increased spending by more than the national average, but “the results were pathetic,” LePage said. “Student achievement scores are barely rising.”

“Despite some of the highest state spending per student, Maine’s schools are not meeting the needs of Maine’s kids,” LePage said. “This report proves that more money does not equate to better results and we must renew our focus through reform. We must support our teachers, improve their effectiveness and hold under-performing schools accountable.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.