10/30: Study shows states lower testing standards to make NCLB

New York Times: Study shows states lower testing standards to make NCLB

Nearly a third of the states lowered their standards so that they could stay ahead of sanctions under the No Child Left Behind law, according to a new study by the federal Department of Education. However, lowering standards also confuses parents about how children’s achievement compares with those in other states and countries.

The study found wide variation among states, with standards highest in Massachusetts and South Carolina. Georgia, Oklahoma and Tennessee had standards that were among the lowest.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State's lawmakers say Pentagon's tanker rules are unfair

ARKANSAS: Crops in state take a $600 million hit due to rains

FLORIDA: Five signs that will signal end of state's recession

GEORGIA: Lawmakers to look at flaws in property tax system

KENTUCKY: State's largest drug roundup pulls 318 people from 34 counties

LOUISIANA: State puts forth new effort to fight Medicaid fraud

MISSISSIPPI: Sen. Wicker says census "could cost Mississippi"

NORTH CAROLINA: Sea level rise along state's cost is accelerating

SOUTH CAROLINA: USC tops 'sexual health' rankings

TENNESSEE: Campaign pushes for more adoptions in state

VIRGINIA: State to close pharmacy for the mentally ill

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org

Lawmakers defensive over health care reform

New York Times: Lawmakers on the defensive over health care reform debates

Lawmakers are returning home for their August recess and many are facing angry crowds. In Georgia, Rep. Hank Johnson told his constituents not to be deterred by reports of ''town halls gone wild,'' but the Democrat wasn't taking any chances at his first health care forum as three times the normal security detail was in position to thwart any problems. Conflicting reports from a Clarkston forum -- one said the meeting featured angry voters and booing, while another report on the same forum said the nearly 2,000 attendees stayed calm. And Tom Baxter, of Southern Political Report, says there was a little pot-stirring, but not a big rumble as expected.

In North Carolina, Rep. Brad Miller, D-N.C., said he will not host any town halls this month because he received a phone call threatening his life. Instead, he said he will hold one-on-one meetings with constituents.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Time ticking on governors in water wars -- all three leave office in 2010

ARKANSAS: Groundbreaking set for wood pellet plant on August 13

FLORIDA: Gov. Crist feeling the pressure over slow movement of stimulus funds

KENTUCKY: State to consider shifting prison funds to other areas

LOUISIANA: Medicaid cuts to cost Central Louisiana $5.3 million

MISSISSIPPI: U.S. Sen. Wicker to talk health care reform with medical students

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue to sign significant death penalty law

SOUTH CAROLINA: Democrats seek probe into Sanford's use of state planes

TENNESSEE: TVA to use dry storage for coal ash

VIRGINIA: Congressmen to hold town hall meetings on health care reform

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org