Grades Rise as Reading Skills Drop in H.S. Study

Yet another report underscoring what a poor job our schools are doing educating children.  This is exactly right:

The Bush administration, which has been pressing to expand testing in high school under the federal education law, No Child Left Behind, seized upon the results as proof that high schools were not measuring up.

“The consensus for strengthening our high schools has never been stronger,” Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said in a statement released in advance of the report. “Students must be challenged to succeed, and schools must prepare them with the tools necessary to thrive in college and a competitive 21st century workforce."

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Grades Rise as Reading Skills Drop in H.S. Study

By DIANA JEAN SCHEMO

Published: February 22, 2007

www.nytimes.com/2007/02/22/education/22cnd-test.html

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 — Today’s high school students are taking seemingly tougher courses and earning better grades, but their reading skills are not improving, according to the results of a national assessment released here today that cited grade inflation as a possible explanation.

Study by National Assessment of Educational Progress (nationsreportcard.gov)