Any time a principal or teacher promotes a child who is not proficient, that teacher and principal is a LIAR. They are lying to the child, the parent, and the taxpayer.
You are absolutely correct. Why do I think of Jack Nicholson in the movie A Few Good Men saying , "You don't want the truth. You can't handle the truth." Too many parents think they are living in Lake Wobegon where all the children are above average. Too many teachers and administrators do a disservice to the children to get the government aid. That is why I only believe national tests where those who administer the test have no financial gain from the aggregate scores increasing.
It is possible to have nation tests that are highly predictive, reliable, and honest but are **private**! The SAT and ACT are examples. The board exams for many of our professions are another example.
I think Charles Murray has the right idea. We need certification exams and exams similar to the board exams of many professions. They should be private run and managed.
So...I see and opportunity for businesses such as SAT, ACT, and the Sylvan, and Kumon tutoring centers. They could make up certification exams that could inexpensively test students to see that they were indeed on grade level for math and reading and almost any subject from spelling to civics and history.