A National Standard?

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The debate on the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act is heating up in Congress, and critics are asking tough questions about the federal government's role in student achievement. Different standards and assessments make comparisons difficult across the 50 states.

A recent public opinion poll found that 59 percent of those surveyed favored having national standards. But some state officials have expressed concerns. "I worry about a national standard becoming a national test," said Lucille Davy, the commissioner of education of New Jersey, at a recent meeting of the state school chiefs. She said she "would be leery of feds being at the helm of this."

What do you think? Where do you stand on the issue of national standards?