View this AP story at http://tiny.cc/xeCZI

Report: States Set Low Bar For Student Achievement
By Libby Quaid
October 30, 2009

From the article:
"States are setting the bar too low," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said. "We're lying to our children when we tell them they're proficient, but they're not achieving at a level that will prepare them for success once they graduate."

The federal government can't impose a set of standards, because education is largely up to states.

But Duncan noted he is offering millions of dollars in grants to encourage states to accept a set of standards being developed by the National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers. The grants come from the federal stimulus law, which set aside $5 billion to push Obama's vision of educational reform.
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The Department of Education will seek input from testing experts and members of the public as it decides what state testing will look like under common standards and how tests might best include English-language learners and students in special education. Officials will travel to Boston, Atlanta and Denver to gather advice as they design guidelines for the Obama administration's next competition for education stimulus funds, which will help pay for developing the tests.

Americans have been told that the Common Core State Standards Initiative is not an attempt to create National Standards.  However, this recent article published by Education Week (10/20/09) leads one to believe that Common Assessments are just around the corner.  It would make sense to have Common Assessments aligned with Common Core State Standards.  However, this is a story that should be followed.

What are your thoughts on the future of state standards and state assessments?  Do you feel like the federal government is overstepping its authority to dictate state standards and state assessments?  Is the government using CCSSO and the National Governors Association to create National Standards?  Are the recent changes positive or negative?  Feel free to use this forum to share your thoughts.
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