...Standardized Testing: An Ineffective Way to Measure Students’ Intelligence High-stakes testing turns many classrooms and schools into prep centers rather than offering rich, engaging, well-rounded instruction. Rote and narrow instruction bores and alienates students, making them tune out and feel they are little more than their scores (FairTest, 2004). High schools exit exams (FairTest, 2008) push many thousands of students out of school. As a result of these factors, urban graduation rates have decreased. Some students see no realistic option other than dropping out; some are deliberately pushed out or fail the tests. Either way, these young people are much more likely to end up in trouble or in prison. ("How Testing Feeds the School-to-Prison Pipeline") According to Peter D. Hart, a research associate for the Association of American Colleges and Universities, standardized tests unfairly measure students’ intelligence and academic performance. Therefore, the tests must be changed drastically or abandoned completely. Educators and parents have vocalized their view on the rising number of standardized tests the government has implemented in efforts to improve education in American schools. In light of the No Child Left Behind legislation under President George W. Bush, the government administers more and more tests to children, predominantly in lower grade levels ("Standardized Testing"). Along with No Child Left Behind, opponents have shown their disapproval of these...
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...The long history of standardized testing began in the 7th Century Imperial China where the test was administered to people seeking jobs in the government (Mathews). The tested used by the Chinese tested the applicants' knowledge of Confucian philosophy and were used up until 1898 (Crozier). For the Western world, the Industrial Revolution brought about the movement to bring school aged kids working in factories and on farms to the classroom. Standardized testing allowed the newly expanded student body to be tested efficiently (Jehlen). The use of standardized testing exponentially rose after the passing of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002 which mandated annual testing in all 50 states (Coulson). The use of standardized testing is now split into a like or dislike because of the amount of achievement, the reliability, and the amount of discrimination they bring. Achievement brings about the sense of accomplishment and opponents of standardized testing believe that standardized testing does not bring about a sense of accomplishment because standardized testing has not improved student achievement. After the No Child Left Behind Act passed in 2002, the United States decreased from 18th in the world in math on the Programme for International Student Assessment to 31st place in 2009 and with a lesser decrease in science but no change in the ranking for reading (Walker). Opponents of standardized testing use a National Research Council report from 2011 that found no evidence that...
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...Standardized Testing: Debunking the Myths Trestin M. Holmes Wiley College ENGL 1302 08 OL-English Composition Dr. Don Lawson November 17, 2014 Abstract The purpose of this research is to thoroughly examine the myths and preconceived notions pertaining to standardized testing and compare it with factual evidence. The criteria that will be used to accurately analyze this study will consist of evaluating the overall effectiveness of standardized testing in terms of student achievement, estimating how much of a financial burden standardized testing has proven to be in past years, and observing the adverse impact that standardized testing has had on children from a statistical & realistic standpoint. This will undoubtedly give insight on how much of a detriment standardized testing is in today’s society. Standardized Testing: Debunking the Myths What is Standardized Testing? A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions, conditions for administering, scoring procedures, and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner. Any test in which the same test is given in the same manner to all test takers is a standardized test. Thesis Standardized tests have been a part of American education since the mid-1800’s and its use has skyrocketed since the induction of 200’2’s “No Child Left Behind Act”...
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...Parents Keep Students Home during STAAR Test Days) For Texas, the STAAR test measures a students ability to move on to the next grade starting in 3rd grade. Within this passed year about 500 parents in Texas choose for their children to stay home from taking the STAAR tests. (Webmaster) Do parents have the right intentions? They believe that schools are more concerned about the test scores than their children from actually learning. In Texas, students must take the exam another day or receive a zero. (Webmaster) How could these parents keep...
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...favor of standardized tests. Aspects include: o Standardized tests are less time-consuming than more complicated assessments that need personal time with every student. o Standardized tests are easier to administer. There are explicit directions given and each student is given the same directions in the same way. o They are easier to grade, machines do it for us. o Very easy to use a computer to track progress and levels of achievement for different groups of students in different subjects. (Holloway) • Objectivity-It is very easy for a test to be objective, it doesn't have emotion or moods or biases. When giving more personal assessments, it is very possible that the teacher or person assessing the student can let their emotions or biases affect how they score that student. • Instigator of change-Standardized tests can be a powerful tool to change classroom and school practices (Gardner). We can use testing to tell us whether we have a problem (Gerstner). When we identify a problem in a classroom, school, or district we can then take active steps in correcting that problem. In addition, achievement data from tests provide teachers with valuable information to improve classroom and student learning (Gardner) • Accountability-Setting high expectations for students and holding them accountable for the same standards, leads to achievement gains. High-stakes testing forces students to take education seriously. (Nathan) • Standardization-Holding all students accountable...
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...Standardized tests measure the knowledge and/or skills of a students. In the test there are many multiple choice and some short answer questions in math and science. In today's society, standardized testing has been a highly debated and well-argued subject among people. While some believe that standardized testing is necessary for cultural advancement, others believe that there is too much emphasis on the standardized test scores. Standardized testing has not improved student achievement, Studies show that standardized tests are an unreliable measure of student performance and they measure only a small portion of what makes education meaningful. In classrooms all over the nation, students take this standardized test, and teachers expect a positive result, but this is not one of those situations. Standardized testing has not been proven to improve student achievement in classrooms. An example for this is, the National Research Council report found no evidence that are test-based incentive programs are...
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...Testing in schools has always been common; teachers need a way to arbitrate if students are understanding and obtaining the knowledge being taught. However, a different type of test is becoming prominent in school systems. Standardized testing, examinations administered and scored in a standard manner (7), are taking over the school systems. Standardized tests administered to students are either aptitude tests or achievement tests. Aptitude tests predict student’s performance, like the common ACT and SAT that colleges frequently use; achievement tests evaluate teacher and school effectiveness (7). Although standardized tests are becoming significant in school curriculum, the results do not accurately represent student or teacher abilities....
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...Nine year old Gianna is in fourth grade, and took her first standardized test last year. Gianna is a marvelous student and does well in school; however, when it came to the test she did not do well. The whole time she was stressed out, and had no idea what she was doing because she could not focus. Her teacher spent so much class time trying to teach the class about the test that she did not get to learn much about the other subjects. For example, Gianna loves social studies, but her teacher mostly focused on math and language arts. Standardized tests is a form of test that requires all students to answer the same questions, or questions that are similar to each other. Standardized tests have gotten worse throughout the years because they have...
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...Standardized testing was drastically changed in The United States in 2002 when congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. Standardized testing has now become a normal and crucial part of a child’s academic agenda in the United States. The big debate is whether or not standardized testing really increases educational achievement. One way to simply answer this is just by looking at the correlation of high achieving educational countries and the amount of standardized testing incorporated into their educational systems. Asian and European countries are among some of the highest academically successful countries in the world. What is one thing in common among these Asian and European countries-- their high use of standardized testing. Although the use of standardized testing can increase the chances of academic achievement it can also come with some negative attributes. With standardized testing you lose creativity and critical thought processing. Students are being trained to answer what they believe the creator of the test believes is the right answer not what the student actually believes to be the right answer. Students are also taught to believe that there is only one right answer and that answer is either A,B,C, or D. According to Ron Maggiano “The overemphasis on testing has...
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...grade students become aware of spring with extra math and reading classes. These students take practice tests, learn about the proper amount of sleep, and breakfast one needs prior to taking the annual standardized achievement test. Once again it is time to test what children have learned this school year, so that state and federal government can decide if children, teachers, and schools measure up to government standards. While achievement and standardized test are meant to improve the quality of education by measuring the performance of students, teachers, and schools; they hinder our children’s education. “The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001, signed into law by (former) President Bush on January 8, 2002, is a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the central federal law in pre-collegiate education” (Education week, 2004, Para. 1). The NCLB was put into place to enhance the public education system in America. NCLB stipulates criteria to improve the performance of students, schools, and teachers by evaluation through annual achievement tests. Determined by the results of the standardized achievement tests, schools are rewarded money from the federal government to implement and improve their curriculum. While NCLB is essentially for every publicly educated child, this law targets student groups with low level test scores such as: minority, English language learning students, poverty stricken students, learning disabled, or any student with...
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...Should public schools continue standardized testing? The United States government implemented the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA), signed into law on January 8, 2002 by President George W. Bush (US Government Printing Office, 2002). This Act requires states to develop assessments in basic skills. In order to receive federal school funding, states must give these assessments to all students at select grade levels. The Act does not assert a national achievement standard. Each state develops its own standards (US Government Printing Office, 2002). Since the creation of this act, various debates challenge the practical use of the standardized tests. The debate presented for this paper is an argument, “Should public schools continue standardized testing?” The favorable arguments are that the standardized tests are fair, backed by parents, improves the quality of the curriculum, and the usage of standardized tests outside of the public education system. The arguments against standardized testing are stereotyping poor performing students, testing anxiety, low morale with teachers, and basing teacher evaluations on student performance. Additionally, ethical, moral and legal issues are identified in relation to standardized testing and their effects on high-stakes testing. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the given arguments, both for and against standardized testing from different sources and to conclude with a consensus of the arguments with the authors of this...
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...Standardized Testing: Its Impact on American Education and Society: Schools all over the U.S are composed of many different types of students with diverse backgrounds. The goal of state officials is to improve education for students, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds, through the use of standardized testing. Its primary purpose for electing service officials in ancient china has led to its adoption in the U.S as a method for seeking improvements in the education system through testing students. However, holding schools and teachers responsible for annually increasing the average scores has shifted the curricula to teaching to the test, in addition to, putting the well being of both teachers and students at risk. Although standardized testing in the U.S. has been in place for over a century, its initial use is associated back to ancient China where the public was selected for jobs through testing. The purpose for standardized tests has always been to measure the knowledge and ability that one acquires. According to Osman Ozturgut, this purpose for testing was originally illustrated in 605 B.C, during the Sui Dynasty. Government jobs were administered to those with fairly high knowledge of Confucian philosophy. However, this would not guarantee a job. In addition to being tested on Confucian philosophy, they were also tested on “military strategy, civil law, revenue and taxation, agriculture, geography…” (3). Standardized tests were used as a method to give applicants...
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...The Cons of Standardized Testing In past decades, tests were given to students to decide their placement in classes or to determine which students needed to be placed in resources class. Today, standardized tests are used for arbitrating the success or failure of students, teachers, and schools. “Despite their biases, inaccuracies, limited ability to measure achievement or ability, and other flaws, schools use standardized tests to determine if children are ready for school, track them into instructional groups; diagnose for learning disability, retardation and other handicaps; and decide whether to promote, retain in grade, or graduate many students. Schools also use tests to guide and control curriculum content and teaching methods” (Fair Test, 2007). On top of that, should one test at the end of a school year determine if a teacher was successful? No! A teacher’s success should be determined on the children’s learning throughout an entire school year based on many different assessments; this should be the same for children’s success. Students and teachers need to be held accountable for their success but not by administrating a standardized test. Standardized testing has become a political issue. When schools are tested they are compared to other schools in there state and nationally which permits politicians to display their concerns about certain school systems. You see, in the political world politician’s show their concern with our schools by attaching standardized...
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...taking more advanced classes. I'm enjoying them, but there is a recurring aspect in these classes that we have to prepare for, and that is an end of the year standardized test. Whether it is the End of course assessments or the AP tests assigned by the college board, they are prepared for by taking class time to familiarize ourselves with the format of the tests and to do practice tests and problems for possible content on the tests. For this reason and other reasons such as, the scoring errors that cost large amounts of money, and the fact that standardized tests are an imprecise measurement of teacher performance, standardized tests should be completely taken out of the education system. To begin with, class...
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...What role should standardized testing play in Texas' public education system? The methods by which children are educated and academically measured in Texas have evolved over the past few decades, due to federal and state directed education policies. In an effort to establish accountability and improve the nation's competitiveness on a global scale, standardized testing has become a driving component of curricula nationwide. Almost every state, including Texas, governs its public schools under a national policy directive known as the "No Child Left Behind Act" (NCLB). The NCLB requires all states to utilize assessments to determine and report if a school has made adequate yearly progress (AYP) in the proficiency levels of all students. This is a relatively recent shift from local control of schools to centralized governance which is intended to improve education and eliminate harmful disparities in education quality (Ricci 342). Instead of school districts determining education standards, the state and federal governments provide the policy direction. One method to assess education performance and compliance with the centralized policy is the use of accountability measures - i.e., standardized tests. The NCLB, coupled with state policy, is intended to decrease inequality and set an objective measurement in place where school districts, schools, teachers, and even students can be held accountable for their progress or lack thereof. However, there are arguments from opponents...
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