National Standard? How's the SAT or ACT?

The Obama administration plans to spend $350 million on national standards -- perhaps Mr. Duncan and his team will consider the SAT and/or ACT which provide an acceptable and common body of knowledge for the college admissions process and is the closest to a national exit exit exam. http://mathconfidence.blogspot.com/search/label/curriculum

In NYC, the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) is a similar indicator for early eighth graders. While some may not prefer standardized exams, test prep can be a tool for teaching and learning especially if old or sample exams are available. Many common Math mistakes and misconceptions can be diagnosed through the use of multiple choice with “good wrong answers” -- this seems to make a stronger impact than just teaching them the right way to do it!!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/14/AR2009061402660_Comments.html