WHAT COLORADO'S LEADERS HAVE BEEN SAYING ABOUT CSAP

2004 "CSAP is working in Colorado. It is designed to push a system where . . . we simply were failing too many of our children. We need to push harder."

Gov. Bill Owens on results showing students made the greatest gains in their weakest subjects, math and science

2005 "(Progress) may not be as rapid or as consistent as we all would wish, (but) we are headed in the right direction."

Owens on results that showed progress in math but flat scores in reading, writing and science

2006 "We have painfully clawed our way up this slope, district by district."

William Moloney state education commissioner on gains mostly in single digits

"We have a long way to go. IBM wouldn't accept the fact that one out of every three computers coming off its assembly line is below average, and yet in some of these indicators, we're at that level."

Owens on results showing slow progress

2007 "(Reading) has been and continues to be one of our most disappointing areas. We've invested a lot of money, a lot of training, a lot of support . . . around reading, yet the results continue to elude us."

Dwight Jones state education commissioner on results that were flat but disappointing in reading