State Standards and Student Achievement

According to a report in the journal Education Next, researchers found no correlation between a rise in state standards and a rise in student achievement – despite this being the main objective of raising the bar of test proficiency. We find no correlation at all between a lift in state standards and a rise in student performance, which is the central objective of higher proficiency bars," the study states. "While higher proficiency standards may still serve to boost academic performance, our evidence suggests that day has not yet arrived."

Hamlin, D., & Peterson, P. E. (2017). Have states maintained high expectations for student performance?: An analysis of 2017 state proficiency standards. Cambridge, MA: EducationNext. http://educationnext.org/have-states-maintained-high-expectations-student-performance-analysis-2017-proficiency-standards/