Regarding Mike's post below, I'm sure it depends on the type of reform. Firing practices certainly become more relevant in hard economic times, but on the other hand, standards-based reforms may fare better when there's money to pay for them. As the Washington Post reports today, Virginia may join Florida and Georgia in cutting testing budgets:
[Virginia Superintendent Patricia I.] Wright said the $380,000 a year saved through elimination of the [third grade history] exam could be used to construct new kinds of questions for math tests, put fifth- and eighth-grade writing tests online and bolster elementary reading exams.
And Andy points out below that North Carolina is making a similar move, cutting back on tests not required "for high school graduation or by federal law."
Budget woes would seem to give the anti-testing crowd an excuse they can use.
