Jeff Bingaman: “Let me first point to this chart which I think makes the case for these tests that the President is talking about and…”

“Let me first point to this chart which I think makes the case for these tests that the President is talking about and that many of us have supported. At the present time, we have a hodgepodge of tests that have been developed around the country that are given to students and then the results of which are given to parents, and they are told that this is an accurate description of how their child is doing in school. The reality is that some parents and some students are led to believe that they are performing at acceptable levels and are led to believe that the education they are receiving is an appropriate education. They don't find out the reality until they apply to college or get in the workplace and find they do not have the skills or the training they need. This chart shows a comparison between the standards that have been adopted by many States and the standards set by this National Assessment for Education Progress, or NAEP. You can see the dramatic difference. For example, in the case of Wisconsin, 35 percent, according to the National Assessment for Education Progress, which is the standard we are trying to give people information on, 35 percent of their students were performing at acceptable levels. According to the standard used by the State of Wisconsin, 88 percent of the students were performing at acceptable levels.”