The Scores

Like a lot of states, Hawaii screwed up and made their standardized tests super hard. Raise the bar, high standards, that whole bit. Now kids can't pass the test. Morale in schools is low. The governor gave the fifth grade math test to her senior policy advisors and they couldn't pass it. The governor's trying to get the test revamped, but she's being opposed by people who correlate difficult tests with quality education. These people aren't thinking the whole thing through. I agree with the governor when she says, ""I am supporting making the standards more in line with what the children need to know to be able to read and write and multiply, subtract and divide." Standardized tests are broad instruments that don't tell you much about individuals, so they should focus on the basics. Leave the high power inferential stuff to the professional teacher. Step aside, testing companies.