Laura Vanderkam�s Gifted Exchange Blog regarding 12th grade math NAEP test results declining while high school GPAs increased peaked my interest on this topic.

FYI
This first link to a Duke Gifted Letter discusses the difference between a nationally normed grade achievement tests and an individual state grade level achievement assessment. It raises the probability that at least some states have lowered the standards so that more of their students appear proficient (to meet NCLB requirements).

http://www.dukegiftedletter.com/articles/vol7no1_tt.html

This next link profiles and ranks each state based the NAEP results. IL, for example, ranked 33rd




IF ANYONE KNOWS THE LINKS FOR STATE STANDARDIZED TEST RESULTS, PLEASE CONSIDER ADDING THEM HERE.

It was suggested in the first paper that if the state test averages are higher than the NAEP results, that state�s achievement tests (and education) standards may be quite low.