A strong relationship is shown between students' state assessment test pass rates and students' socioeconomic status (SES). State sanctions based on assessment scores can affect graduation, student diplomas, school accreditation, school funding, teacher rewards and promotion, paperwork requirements, regulations, work expectations, improvement plans, and even real estate values. Advises voters not to endorse legislation and policy that penalizes low SES communities and their constituency. (Contains 23 references.) (Author/MLF)