Peter:

I have already given our readers the goods on NCLB, in responding to an appeal from Jonah a few weeks ago for defenses of “compassionate conservatism.” I think I called it “turkey poop.”

Most of what the NCLB demands of schools can be accomplished, and can only be accomplished, by sleight of hand. NCLB’s entire effect has therefore been to increase the general level of dishonesty in our education system.

It has, in other words, been a corrupting influence.

Closing the gap in group differences on test scores, for instance, can be easily done by two methods: (1) Make the tests so easy that everyone passes them — no more gap! (2) Make the tests so hard that everyone just guesses the answers, and the gap is lost in random “noise” — no more gap! You don’t actually need to go all the way with either approach to get bankable results. Schools seem to be mainly opting for (1).

[The math: If you plot a graph of y=size of gap against x=difficulty of test for any particular test population, you get a hill-shaped curve anchored at y=0 (no gap) when x=0 (totally easy test) or when x = 1 (totally difficult tests). By adjusting x appropriately, you can move your y down the hill a few points. You’ve reduced the gap! You’ll get a promotion!

Maybe a job with the admin!….]