This report uses a "chain-linking" approach to link state assessments to NAEP to the international assessments TIMSS (2007) and PIRLS (2006) in order to compare the proficiency standards in each state with international benchmarks. The report lends further support to the assertion that NCLB perversely incentivizes states to set low proficiency expectations on their state assessments in order to meet AYP goals: states with high levels of student proficiency are strongly correlated with low performance standards.