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In a new report released this week by the Center on Education Policy, student state test scores were found to have increased in the last 5 years.

Though this report has several things going for it, like many other studies on student test scores it must be approached with caution. I have written before about what most standardized tests REALLY measure as well as the fact that these scores can be manipulated. As more and more educators are "encouraged" to teach to the test, the scores have gone up. Not surprising.

But what sets this latest report apart is that the primary authors are some of the most outspoken critics of NCLB in general and standardized testing, in particular. So, it does have a certain amount of legitimacy.

Bottom line: Students' scores on state tests have increased over the last five years, but we can't be sure it is due to NCLB because we have no control group. Furthermore, so many reforms besides NCLB were implemented in the last five years, it is impossible to attribute the gains in test scores to NCLB alone.

Of course, that won't stop its supporters from CLAIMING that NCLB has raised student test scores.

As I said earlier: Approach with caution.

Even better? Read the report or the summary of the report.