My charter school embraces Project Based Learning, but we still have to do well on the state standardized test. We are constantly trying to walk the line between teaching depth through projects that encourages creativity, exploring, and cooperation and breadth that is dictated by the hundreds of standards we need to teach each year. I praise this district in Kentucky that is doing project based learning and their superintendent actually wants to stop the state tests. Teachers did have to quickly adapt and the district lost 40% of their teachers because they left voluntarily or were let go. But tests scores improved and the students and parents seem much happier. Definitely watch this video.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education/jan-june13/learning_04-03.html