Must-reads for February 15, 2012

Are the new No Child Left Behind waivers exacerbating the worst of its problems? Stan Karp at the Rethinking Schools blog thinks so. I agree.
Is dumbing down an exam ever a good idea? Here’s what the New York Times has to say about what’s happening to the New York Regents’ exam.
There’s a bill moving through the Colorado state house that would basically require younger elementary kids to repeat grades if they don’t read at par. Here’s one opinion on that idea.