Did Alex Russo really say this?

In his discussion of the recent article in the NY Times about the reported increase in cheating in tests, the likely result of the intense pressure placed on teachers to improve scores, he wrote:

So: more coverage, but not necessarily more actual cheating. And no real case for causality, either, since so many of the tests kids take have little or no effect on their lives (or, I would argue, the lives and careers of most teachers and educators).

One really has to wonder what universe he's living in...