The New York Times also had an article about the thirty-year study on education ("Ninth Grade Key to Success," Jan. 18). One of the report's authors, Dr. Walter Haney of Boston College, sites the whole standards and reform movement as one that was "implemented in an ill-conceived manner". One of the goals of education reform was to increase high school graduation rates to 90% by the year 2000; instead, the article points out, the rate was 74.4% in 2001, down from 78.5% in 1992. In Lowell, State Education Reform has provided huge benefits. As parents, we've seen greater school and district accountability, improved test scores and a better curriculum. But at what cost? It would be interesting to compare Lowell's graduation rates for the past thirty years to see how the statistics apply at the local level.