When students are falling behind, you can work hard to catch them back up or you can just lower the bar.
Guess which option a lot of state leaders are choosing right now?
UPDATE:
Since 2020, four states have lowered their proficiency thresholds, changing how they report reading and/or math outcomes:
AK, NY, OK, & WI. IL seems poised to follow.
Another seven states have weakened graduation requirements:
CO, MA, MD, NJ, NM, NY, & OR.