Articles

Test scores, standards and No Child Left Behind

Public Agenda Alert
June 7, 2007

Test scores have increased and the achievement gap has narrowed since the introduction of the No Child Left Behind law, according to a study released by the Center on Education Policy. But the center cautioned that they could not conclusively say the law was responsible for the improved scores. Another study released this week by the "Nation's Report Card" found that proficiency standards vary widely from state to state. The differences can be the equivalent of 60 to 80 points on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

All of this new data adds to the continuing debate on No Child Left Behind, which is up for reauthorization this year. Standards are a key element of the law, but in Public Agenda's research we've found the public now sees standards as "necessary but not sufficient" to improve education.

For example, in our Reality Check series of surveys the percentage of parents who say lack of emphasis on basics is a very serious problem at their child's school has dropped from 28 percent in 1994 to 20 percent last year. The percentage of parents who say low academic standards is a very serious problem in their child's school dropped from 26 percent in 1994 to 15 percent.

And when asked to choose among four candidates in a hypothetical school board election (one advocating standards and testing, a second backing vouchers, a third endorsing charter schools and a fourth calling for more money and smaller classes), only one-quarter of parents chose the standards candidate.

Educators have been more skeptical of No Child Left Behind, with 70 percent of teachers saying the law is causing problems in their district. By contrast, very few principals and superintendents name No Child Left Behind as the most pressing issue facing them. But fewer than half of administrators think the law will actually raise student achievement.

Find out more in Reality Check: Is Support for Standards and Testing Fading?:
http://www.publicagenda.org/research/
research_reports_details.cfm?list=100

Read more about the Center on Education Policy study: http://www.cep-dc.org/

Read more about the NAEP study:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard
/pubs/studies/2007482.asp

Copyright 2007 Public Agenda. More information: www.publicagenda.org.

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