OK, putting stats geek cap on top of my teacher hat...
NCLB requires the use of criterion referenced tests, not standardized tests. Yes, there are percentiles printed with the test scores. The theory goes that these scores are based on whether students have demonstrated they can do the stuff in the state content standards and benchmarks, so all students might potentially score as proficient.
The theory also goes that my state can somehow leap from having 44% of its students scoring as proficient in math to having 82% of its students scoring as proficient by 2014, but I do not see that happening.
