Seven provocative new papers examining key challenges of implementing the new federal education law-particularly its testing and accountability provisions-and strategies for meeting them will be available tomorrow on the Fordham Foundation website (www.edexcellence.net). As states turn to the daunting task of creating annual reading and math tests for all students in grades 3 through 8, tracking whether all students are making real progress toward proficiency, and ensuring real consequences for school success and failure, they must answer a range of questions and overcome some real difficulties in designing and installing these new systems. These seven papers outline some of hurdles that will be faced by states, districts, and schools as they try to make this law a reality and suggest some creative solutions. Authors include: Michael Cohen (Aspen Institute), David Figlio (University of Florida), Matthew Gandal (Achieve), Dan Goldhaber (Urban Institute), Brian Jones, Billie Orr, and Lisa Graham Keegan (Education Leaders Council), Mark Reckase (Michigan State University), and Paul Herdman, Nelson Smith, and Richard Wenning (New American Schools).
