I started posting comments in the paper primarily as opposition to the paper’s support of the reform/accountability nonsense which is largely either ineffective or counterproductive.  
 I am not shocked to see the achievement gap has increased because the policies do little to address the root problems.  There are educational outcomes that are not well measured by accountability measure that are important such as the ability to reason, learn new material, and have skills beyond standard language-math data set.
The reform effort came as a result of the failure of the traditional system to make necessary structural changes that can lead to a more effect and likely less expensive educational system which better serves all students. Look for the candidates who give some indication that they can use decades of data to make needed changes.