(Guest post by Greg Forster)
Today Pajamas Media runs my column on the latest long-term trend NAEP results and what they say to critics and supporters of NCLB:
The good news for the critics is that the Nation’s Report Card shows reading and math scores still have not substantially changed since 1971.
The good news for supporters is that the Nation’s Report Card shows reading and math scores still have not substantially changed since 1971.
Welcome to the confusing world of education policy!
Jay P. Greene's Blog 
Nothing confusing about it. Expenditures for public education have substantially increased in that time, on an inflation-adjusted basis, yet scores haven’t budged or have drifted downward.
At best, we’re getting what we used to get but for a lot more money. At worst the testing regimen has been delicately adjusted to reflect the political realities and not educational attainments so we’re getting a whole lot less for our money.