Steve Beshear is a candidate for governor, but he doesn’t seem to understand the nature or purpose of NCLB … According to the C-J’s political blog:

Asked about how would you improve education in Kentucky in relation to No Child Left Behind?

Beshear said he will work to get Kentucky exempt from some or all of the No Child Left Behind requirements because the CATS system, in his opinion, is a better measure of skills.

Fletcher said the state needs to establish a Web-based testing system.

Where does one begin to evaluate Beshear’s lack of understanding here?

Mr. Beshear, what exactly do you think that NCLB itself tests? NCLB is a reform meant to force states to adopt reforms. NCLB is not itself a test of skills. CATS is the test that Kentucky is using to comply with NCLB’s requirements.

Now, as to CATS, I think it’s well-established that CATS is, at best, fatally flawed. It’s not a quality test of skills. [via KYP]