But by 2012, city children in third and fourth-grades had narrowed the test-score gap on math with their peers throughout the state but fell a few points short of pulling even.

WSJ: Reputation on the Line

Thus, it is possible that some students made progress on lower-level math skills that were not detected by the state test.

FORBES: The Counterproductive Attack on NYC's School of One

In one such experiment, subjects were able to cheat on a math test. (They were given access to the answers.) As expected, there was score inflation among those able to cheat.

FORBES: A Simple, Cheap Confidence Booster

Thanks to the actions of this Congress last year, we will soon have for the very first time a voluntary national test based on national standards in fourth grade reading and eighth grade math.

CNN: State Of The Union