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Standardized Teindergarten

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Standardized Testing Should Not Take Place in Kindergarten
Kourtney C. Robles-Stewart
Rasmussen College
English Composition
G124/ENC1101 Section 04
Teresa Kelly
March 4, 2016

Abstract
Standardized testing in kindergarten has become a very controversial topic across the nation. While there may be advantages of implementing standardized tests in schools, the disadvantages seem to be never-ending. The following paper will analyze the effects standardized testing can have on children of all ages with an emphasis on kindergarteners. It will look into the factors that impact test scores and how the tests compare to normal classroom activities and behaviors. A brief look into the role the United States government has played in standardized testing across the nation will also be covered.
Standardized Testing Should Not Take Place in Kindergarten
It’s a normal Monday morning when a mother is getting her, normally, very eager five-year-old ready for school. Her daughter has never missed a day and has always been overly-excited to get back to class after the weekend off, however, today is not the same. The little girl who once loved going to school to see her teacher and friends, now wants nothing to do with it, she simply doesn’t want to go. Her reasoning, “it’s not fun”. Unfortunately, this scenario is becoming more common across the nation as curriculum modifications are being made by educators to prepare young students for standardized tests. Since "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) was passed in 2002 (“Is the Use of Standardized,” 2015), there has been a huge increase in standardized testing. Not only are the students in the United States the most tested on earth (Fairtest, 2012), but the US has slipped from 18th in the world in math on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) to 31st place in 2009, with similar results in science and no change in

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