This amendment prohibits the Department of Education from spending any FY 1998 funds for national tests until statutory authority is given. Rep. Goodling said it would slow the process so Congress will have time to hold hearings and thoroughly debate the proposal. More states want to make sure their standards are world-class, but they don't have the resources to benchmark their standards against exemplary international standards. More states plan to assess whether or not students are meeting standards. Only 13 states require and fund intervention programs to help students who are struggling to meet standards.
Most states still fail to require students to meet standards as a basis for promotion or graduation.
States need to make sure their assessments are based on strong standards. States should establish plans for phasing in incentives and consequences, or students will not take the standards seriously. States must provide extra help to students who are not meeting the standards. The fact is, in city after city across this country, public school systems are grossly mismanaged and are abjectly failing in their education mission. The fact is, this failure is not necessarily for lack of resources.