Our problems in education cannot be solved by throwing more money at schools or cheating to inflate test scores.  I have worked with too many college students who have been through this, and when they get to the classroom the truth comes out.  Many can't read or write any where near college level.  With that in mind, when I retired several years ago, I approached our local school board and asked if I could set up a tutorial center within the high schools. However, I was told that there was no time for such a center because the students' schedules were filled with other subjects,allowing no time to focus primarily on the "Three R's."  This, coupled with the fact that our society is crumbling due to the break up of the family unit and the advent of electronic gadgets/games that compete against school work, and we have a BIG problem on our hands.

While higher test scores might reflect favorably on the educators in particular states, it is the students who are getting cheated, along with a society that needs strong, educated minds in the workplace.