Huckabee & Arkansas Education -- Can You Solve This Riddle?

Extracted from a report by Debbie Pelley on Arkansas' Public Education: How does Arkansas' education get an 8th place national ranking in 2008, which is being touted by former Gov. Huckabee in national debates and by the media, in light of the following facts?
· The report itself indicates: Arkansas (AR) earned a D in K-12 on student achievement.
· Only nine states scored lower than AR on the ACT test in 2007 (i.e., ranked 41st out of 50 states). While AR dropped slightly in 07, the national average improved. (The ACT test is the culmination of K-12 instruction and is used by colleges to award scholarships.)
· The graduation rate dropped slightly more than 10% in 2005-2006 according to the last educational report in AR; the next report won't be available for a few more months.
· College Remediation Rate is 51.6% (46.6% in 1995); National Average is 33%.
· Only Nine States Scored Lower Than Arkansas in 8th Grade Math on NAEP Test (again AR 41st out of 50 states); only sixteen states scored lower than AR on the 4th Grade Reading NAEP Test, etc. in 2005 (34th out of 50 states). In 2007, Arkansas' scores were even lower. AR Dept of Education Director reported for 2007, "We have slipped a bit in terms of state rankings in all areas, save mathematics at the fourth grade."
· Only 28% of AR students pass test on Advanced Placement (AP) courses, while 59.4% pass nationwide.
· Test Scores on nationally normed tests are 11 Percentile Points lower in 2006 than in 1990 (a 22% decrease) (Later scores are not yet available).
· In 2006 in its latest State of State Standards, Fordham Foundation gave Arkansas an F on its Math Standards, F on U S. History Standards, an F on World History Standards, a D in Science and a C in English for an average grade of F.
· The National Report Card on Higher Ed. gave Arkansas a D+ in High School Preparation for College in its latest 2006 report.
· Educational Reforms Have Cost $1.4 BILLION since 2003 . . .
Arkansas earned a D in kindergarten through 12th grade on student achievement. . . .

What is going on --The answer to the riddle: Those states with the most government control get the highest ranking - this organization's report is a propaganda tool to encourage more government control. Achievement is only about one-sixth of the final grade or ranking (and part of that one-sixth has nothing to do with actual scores but rather with narrowing the poverty gap, etc.) The other aspects that make up the ranking are all things that are attained by government control and mandates by the state. . . . [Read More - with documented references and footnotes]

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