There are a few very high national standards, which are tested through sampling, and local schools and districts are expected to figure out how to teach and test these high standards. (gse.harvard.edu)
I also think that it is not a good idea to open the Pandora's box of exceptions to the principle of EU law primacy, by applying either the constitutional identity clause of Article 4 (2) TEU or the exception of higher national standards of fundamental rights under Article 53 of the Charter (see the Melloni judgment, discussed previously on this blog by V. Franssen). (europeanlawblog.eu)
WASHINGTON — Asserting that the current education system has produced expectations for student performance that are «simply too low,» a Congressionally mandated panel last week called for high national standards for student achievement and a national system of assessments to gauge their attainment. (edweek.org)