The Leaning Tower of PISA is About to Topple Over

as the neolibs are being put on the defensive trying to explain what those international scores mean, which is very little with regard to the U.S. "results."

Ravitch:

Here is the background history that you need to know to interpret the PISA score release, as well as Secretary Duncan’s calculated effort to whip up national hysteria about our standing in the international league tables.
The United States has NEVER been first in the world, nor even near the top, on international tests.

Over the past half century, our students have typically scored at or near the median, or even in the bottom quartile.

And the scores don't mean shit. However, they make for good propaganda for the privatizers.