Now that we have some state breakdowns on NAEP data, one blog reader was able to ask this question: “Would be interesting to know why Massachusetts has a (gender) gap of eleven points, while New Hampshire boasts eighteen. Where is NH going wrong?”
I can’t answer that question; but it’s an interesting one. Massachusetts has the nation’s most highly regarded standards-and-accountability system. That would be clue #1. Any accountability system that keeps boys from slipping behind is key.