The Federal Highway Administration does require states to assess their own oversight, through periodic reviews of work-zone safety procedures.
Only 35% of students in the district pass maths tests used by the state to assess schools.
"When the commission fails to do what enables the state to assess qualifications, the state will do it," he said.
Ball said it was important for each state to assess whether such programs were rehabilitating inmates, not least when the inmates were minors.
Under the Bush plan, the N.A.E.P. would sample students in fourth and eighth grade every year, in every state, to assess achievements in reading and mathematics.
The federal government recently surveyed states to assess their enforcement capabilities, and the results suggest a patchwork of protections.
The regulation asks each state to assess the health of every body of water within its borders, assign maximum allowable levels of pollution for each one, and then regulate individual polluters.
Two theoretically neutral psychologists hired by the state to assess Mr. Wilcox and one hired by the prosecution all said they believed he was still sexually dangerous, though one acknowledged it was a difficult case.
Alameda County officials, however, said they relied on the state to assess group homes and had few options when young people required intensive services.
We have introduced legislation that doubles the amount of financing targeted to protect high-risk states, ensures that first responders in all states get the equipment and training they need to achieve minimum preparedness, and requires states to assess their risks.
Where artificial beaches failed to protect their communities, it was probably because "this storm just exceeded the design conditions," said Dr. Herrington, of the Stevens Institute, who has been working with the state to assess coastal protection.
