All kinds of reports mention how states rank in test scores, education standards, blah, blah, blah. I wonder how many people realize the kids are taking tests particular to a given state. In some states, scores earned by students attending special education classes and kids still learning English are averaged in with the rest. Other states hold those scores out because they don't represent how well their children perform in school as a whole. In short, states are ranked using scores from various tests under different circumstances. Figure that one out.
If you would like to see your state's education standards and compare them with other states' benchmarks, visit http://www.academicbenchmarks.com/search/?&state=AL&standard_id=12145
Although some states list more skills, some less, you may be surprised how much the lists have in common.
Even more interesting, you can view the international standards here (at least as of 2007). http://www.acei.org/ACEIElementaryStandardsSupportingExplanation.5.07.pdf
So often the media prattles on about how awful American education is in comparison with other countries. So why are successful businesses, inventions, and helpful medications so regularly exported from the rich crazy uncle across the Atlantic?
