ABSTRACT
Chapter two of Unequal By Design examines the modern-day history and politics of high-stakes, standardized testing in the United States. Beginning with A Nation At Risk, this chapter traces the ascendance of neoliberal education reforms through the No Child Left Behind Act, the Race to the Top and Common Core initiatives, into the Ever Student Succeeds Act. In the process, this chapter analyzes the marketizing of public education through the neoliberal paradigm, including the rise in power of billionaire philanthropies, non-profit organizations, and the New Middle Class. This chapter concludes by addressing those profiting from public education reforms, as well as the fact that our systems of testing have failed to increase achievement.
