Palin: Alaska to stay out of national test

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, June 2 (UPI) -- Alaska will not participate in an effort to devise math and reading tests to allow state-by-state comparison of student achievement, Gov. Sarah Palin says.

Palin said Sunday that the state would "monitor" the federal-state program, the Anchorage Daily News reported. Missouri, South Carolina and Texas have also decided not to take part in the program.

"Alaska's decision not to participate until after we monitor this is based on our desire to spend our time and public resources to improve instruction in the classroom and to form productive relationships between schools and the communities they serve," the governor said in a statement.

The federal No Child Left Behind Act requires states to draw up their own standards for student achievement and adopt their own tests. Critics say the lack of national standards makes the law meaningless if states set the bar low.

In her release, Palin said the national standards and tests could be "incorporated" into Alaska standards later.