Criticizes claims by proponents of effectiveness of Success for All, New American Schools, and other schoolwide reform policies and programs. Argues that evidence from a substantial body of research indicates that these reform efforts have not raised the reading scores of low-performing students. (Contains 33 references.) (PKP)

Reviews major issues germane to the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) case. Discusses the second wave of Texas standards-based reform that would institutionalize retention for students failing a state-mandated achievement test, proposed federal legislation limiting use of high stakes tests, and psychometric and policy lessons learned from…