Following up on some of my earlier comments on our educational system, I point out a very interesting chart in today's Wall Street Journal with regard to the percent of eighth graders considered proficient by the state and those considered proficient as a result of their taking the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test. Just take two states at random. In Connecticut's tests 75% are rated proficient in reading and 76% in math. When these kids took the NAEP test, their results were not as good: 34% in reading, 35% in math. Georgia has similar results; their tests show 83% proficient in reading and 59% in math. In the NAEP test the results were 24% in reading and 22% in math.
The problem is that the No Child Left Behind Act allows states to define 'proficient' anyway they want. Obviously, there should be a uniform standard. Without a national standard how can we know how well our kids are doing against the competition here, let alone the competition around the world they will face when they grow up?
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