Standards: 8 States Up, 11 States Down

Have states really been racing to the bottom like Duncan says?  Not really.

The USDE cites a NAEP report as showing that 11 states made changes in math during 2005-2007 that resulted in a lowering of their AYP standards, as mapped onto the NAEP scale.*

From the chart:  "When states make significant changes in their state standards, they are more likely to make them less rigorous."

But the news is not all bad.  Eight states (GA, HI, ID, MT, MO, NY, NC, VA) increased their standards in math and/or reading.  Here's the press release (PDF) which includes reading and math.