Dumbing Down Proficient: Intel, State Farm Heads Say Easy State Tests Sap U.S. Education

Bloomberg:

After only 50 percent of Arizona's eighth-grade public school students passed a standardized reading test, state education officials took decisive action: They made the exam easier. Last year, 71 percent of students were rated ``proficient'' in reading.

As students throughout the U.S. undergo the latest round of tests this month, corporate leaders including Craig Barrett, chairman of Intel Corp., and Edward Rust, chief executive officer of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., say they're concerned about slipping standards among states. They're exploring whether to renew a decade-old push for national tests.

A commenter over at Joanne Jacobs notes that "Every state must participate in the NAEP every year".

Posted by James Zellmer at March 24, 2006 6:37 AM
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