The issue focused on whether how often students must study science and math in order to graduate. The bill would have required high school students to study science and math for at least two years.

But education officials said the science requirement was too severe, while scientists opposed it as scientifically inappropriate.

In its statement Monday, Science Education Action Network — a national organization that advocates for science education — wrote: "This study makes clear that scientific literacy is not only important to academic success but also important to science policy in