BoardBuzz just checked out this post over at The Edifier about a report that was just released by the Department of Education that compared each state’s standard for proficiency on their state assessments. The report shows that what each state considers proficient varies from state to state. BoardBuzz is certain that some will use this report to argue for national standards, Gadfly I’m looking at you, but Edifier makes a good point. What matters most is if the standards meet the needs of their students and not necessarily if they are the highest. Each state has their own needs and the variation in state standards may just reflect this fact. For example, what students need to know and be able to do in Michigan may be a whole lot different than what students need to know and be able to do in Hawaii.

So before we get too excited over one report and rush into creating national standards, lets take a breath and determine whether each state asks enough of their students so they leave high school prepared for life after high school. If so, we could use our time and energy to actually help schools improve rather than spent arguing over national standards.

To learn more about the national standards debate check out the Center for Public Education’s A new national conversation on national standards? and for more information on NAEP achievement levels check out the Center’s The proficiency debate: A guide to NAEP achievement levels.