Is Our Children Learning?

Bigotry of low expectations?

A number of studies have shown that children are doing better on their proficiency tests since No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Unfortunately, we can't really trust the statistics much, since the states set their own standards, and they vary widely.

The recent developments are the publication of comparisons of state standards with those on a national test. It seems that every state sets its standards lower than the national standard, but some set theirs a whole lot lower.

There are stories out in the usual places, notably the NYT, but I like a couple of posts by Kevin Drum. He notes, commenting on a scatter plot State standards versus the NAEP:

state standards compare to the NAEP "basic achievement level" for 32 states. This one is for fourth grade reading, and the state standards vary from 161 to 234.

Does this seem like a lot? Well, hold on: the rule of thumb for NAEP is that ten points is about equal to one grade level, which means that Mississippi at the bottom has a passing standard seven grade levels lower than the passing standard for Massachusetts at the top. Overall, more than half the states had passing standards a full grade level lower than the NAEP "basic" level.

Like Mississippi, most of the States with very low standards are in the old south - Tennessee at minus six grade levels, Georgia at minus five and a half, with a bunch more (including non-southern Idaho) at about minus 4-5. SC though, has the second highest standard.

The effect is that proficiency means very different things in different states. Children well above proficient in MS, TN, GA, or ID might be well below in MA or SC. Some States clearly have chosen to greatly exaggerate their educational achievement. The whole concept is useless if its only purpose is to mislead parents as to their children's achievement.

If I lived in one of those low expectations States, I would be pissed.

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