> Heck, we could start by testing the hypothesis that getting everybody to focus lots of classroom time on standardized tests improves actual education.

It's been done.

A quick Google found me this: http://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/16/us/study-finds-standardize...

Which is from 1992. I'm sure if I put some effort into it, I could find more, or at least demonstrate that standardized testing has not meaningfully changed in the last 20 years.