Test scores and economic competitiveness
By Valerie Strauss
It has become a common refrain among politicians and school reformers that the performance of American students on international tests is a reflection of the country's ability to compete economically. Here's a different view, written by William J. Mathis of Goshen, Vermont. He is the managing director of the National Education Policy Center and a former Vermont superintendent. The views expressed are his own.
By William J. Mathis
What does international economic competitiveness have to do with kids’ test scores?
Not much.
If we look at it from a jobs perspective, 70 percent of United States jobs