… one solution is to lower testing standards.
In New York State, the Board of Regents plans to reduce the minimal score necessary for a student to be considered proficient in subjects like English and math. From the article at the link:
Last year some schools posted shocking results — in Schenectady, no eighth grader who took the math test scored as proficient.
By reducing the standards of minimal proficiency, we’ll still be able to claim that some kids do know math.
Bright Across the Lifespan 