Among the facts from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Fourth Grade Reading report
cited by FairTest: — There has been no gain in NAEP grade four reading performance nationally since 1992 despite a
huge increase in state - mandated testing; — NAEP scores in southern states, which test the most and have the highest stakes attached to their state testing programs, have declined; — The NAEP score gap between white children and those from African American and Hispanic families has
increased, even though schools serving low - income and minority - group children put the most emphasis on testing; and — Scores of children eligible for free lunch programs have dropped since 1996.