This new report focuses on the nature and quality of comparative international assessments and outlines several caveats and cautions that policymakers should consider when interpreting the results.

The appropriate interpretation of comparative educational data can help policymakers and educators evaluate policy choices aimed at the improvement of teaching, learning and the governance of our schools. The report focuses on getting the right data — and getting the interpretation of those data right. Good international educational comparisons should be a stimulus for broad and deep conversations about what the nation values in its school system, and what we need to do to improve student achievement and continue economic progress.

You can download No Country Left Behind: Rhetoric and Reality of International Large-Scale Assessment” (PDF) free-of-charge.