Students may perform above grade level in reading and math, but tests in these areas fail to measure the skills involved in learning how to learn. No Child Lef

Students may perform above grade level in reading and math, but tests in these areas fail to measure the skills involved in learning how to learn. No Child Left Behind and its ilk focus on proficiency and remediation, but actually risks leaving bright students behind. When children can breeze through their assigned work because it’s so easy for them, they end up ill prepared for facing challenge and failure when it finally comes. They are left with poor study habits and time management skills because they never needed good ones before. I’m not sure how to measure these skills but doing so may give a more complete picture of a student’s learning situation — maybe a picture that incentivizes challenging students according to their abilities.