State standards are just a way to enforce an agenda.
Further, when schools "fail," it means that the government can take over and totally script what is taught. Forced school failure is effecient for this agenda.
NCLB is a disaster. Holding everyone back to the level of the slowest member of the class is going to have major consequences on the post-secondary education in this country. I'd home school, too.
If you want to see how much our education system's been dumbed-down over the years, go to www.warroom.com and click on Most Wanted in the left margin, look for the 8th grade final exam from 1895. Let me know if you get a passing grade.