National testing urged for schools

A push for national testing for schools is expected since at the present time it is impossible to tell which states are legitimately improving scores.
The standards in Missouri are quite different than in its neighboring states or New York or California, as an article in today's Washington Post notes:

Maryland recently reported that 82 percent of fourth-graders scored proficient or better in reading on the state's test. The latest data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as "the nation's report card," show 32 percent of Maryland fourth-graders at or above proficiency in reading.

Virginia announced last week that 86 percent of fourth-graders reached that level on its reading test, but the NAEP data show 37 percent at or above proficiency.

Those kind of results are unfair to states that have higher standards, and only three come close to the NAEP tests, the article said:

Another Fuller-led study found only three states -- Massachusetts, Missouri and South Carolina -- with proficiency standards that come close to NAEP's.

Missouri may no longer be on that list after passing and implementing a bill from Sen. Gary Nodler which made it easier for students to be in the proficient ranks. At the same time, when other states with lower standards and higher test scores were being praised for their outrageously high test scores.