In a Parade magazine story coming out Sunday, Microsoft billionaire and big-time ed philanthropist Bill Gates posits that standardized testing "is the only objective measurement of our students" and dismisses the argument that it will snuff creativity: "If you don't know how to read, it doesn't matter how creative you are," he says. Gates also says the nation's schools are not doing a good enough job teaching the basics of reading, and that rewarding quality teachers – isn't that another way of saying merit pay? – is a top priority. Alas, the Parade piece (click here) is too short to get at the devilish details that really matter, but on the face of it, doesn't Gates sound like … Jeb? What do you think? Has Gates lost his mind? Or is he on to something?

- Ron Matus, state education reporter