Facing High Stakes Testing Essay

One of the main controversial disputes regarding education is if test taking is actually a beneficial form of a learning technique for students. Within the context of Henry L. Roediger III’s article, How Tests Make Us Smarter, Roediger goes into depth upon how giving students “low-stakes quizzes” could help improve their memory as well as consistent and spread out practice. Psychology In Action, written by both Karen Huffman and Katherine Dowdell, also restates similar learning techniques within their first chapter.

Students dread the time of the year when they stop with their course material and begin to prepare for test. Everyone is in agreement that some type of revolution is needed when it comes to education; eliminating standardized test will aid the reform. The need for standardized testing has proven to be ineffective and outdated; some leading educationalist also believe this because the tests do not measure a student’s true potential. This will save money, stop labeling, and alleviate stress in students and teachers.

The Department of Education concludes that high-stakes testing and statewide standards puts too strain on both the teacher and student. Multiple studies show evidence of miscalculation of scores, teachers being blamed for low test score, and too much time spent on preparation for the tests. The purpose of this policy brief is to elaborate on the non-beneficial components of high-stakes testing and statewide standards. Thus, peer-reviewed research articles and evidential articles are reviewed on high-stakes testing and statewide standards. In addition, the state of Florida has shown the greatest amount of dissatisfied outcomes. The information provided in this policy brief will precisely indicate why high-stakes testing and statewide standards should be abandoned from the school system. I request the action of Congress to outlaw high-stakes testing and statewide standards for the betterment of all National citizens by passing a new law to force states away from standardized testing.

Today is test day, an obstacle that in time will falsely decide a student’s future academically and morally. He has one chance to portray his academic performance in such limited time, having to forcefully disregard whether or not he is in fact emotionally prepped on the given day. There is an unnecessary surplus of students who share such experiences, who too have had their dreams and talents ripped by automated grading. This tale is nothing new, such senseless obstacles have troubled generations. Standardized tests are not a valid measurement of academic success and should be discontinued due to their one-size fits all curriculum, inaccurate performance judgment on a given day, and inefficient test taking times.

I just happen to think that if we can do this with in the schools, it is inevitable that it can happen in our community. If not today, then when our students are in high school, or in college or in the work force that supports and creates our community. I think that teachers greatly influence society and have the power to help students, no matter their walk of life or social

In the contemporary American education system high-stakes standardized testing has resulted in a focus on extensive test preparation, as well as a large increase in the numbers of teachers cheating by alternating their students' test scores. Both these phenomena are a direct consequence of the incentives and punishments directly linked to standardized test results.

What once began as a simple test administered to students yearly to measure understanding of a particular subject has, as Kohn (2000) has stated, “Mutated, like a creature in one of those old horror movies, to the point that it now threatens to swallow our schools whole” (p.1). Today’s students are tested to an extent that is unparalleled in not only the history of our schools, but to the rest of the world as well. Step into any public school classroom across the United States and it will seem as if standardized testing has taken over the curriculum. Day after day teachers stress the importance of being prepared for the upcoming test. Schools spend millions of dollars purchasing the best test preparation materials, sometimes comes at the cost of other important material. Although test

Public school curriculums have been morphed to teach what is on standardized tests specifically. "Research has shown that incentives can encourage teachers to "teach to the test" by narrowing their focus to the material most likely to appear on the test. As a result, their students' scores may be artificially inflated because the score reflects their knowledge of only part of the material the students should know about the subject." (Do High-Stakes Tests Improve Learning?). The concept of teaching to test is the problem in school systems.

Standardized testing does not truly evaluate a student’s knowledge. “High schools are turning into ‘giant test-prep centers’, effectively closing off intellectual inquiry and undermining enthusiasm of learning (and teaching)” (Wallace 4). Students are now being taught in such a fashion that all

Pundits say testing prompts a narrowing class educational module, since educators may "instruct to the test" as opposed to investigating themes and ways to showing that may not deliver results on paper. The other side of the contention? Wayne Camara, Vice President of Research at The College Board, says the nature of schools influences testing, as well. "Accomplishment on tests in school is profoundly identified with the nature of training that children get," says Camara. It's no big surprise that this chicken-and-egg problem has folks, and policymakers, confounded regarding what to do

Testing accommodations for high-stakes tests have recently become a topic of conversation among state and federal legislators. In addition to those higher up, classroom teachers of exceptional students (special needs) have begun to question the validity of tests for their students. Due to the rising number of high-stakes tests that are administered, there have been a number of research studies completed in order to help prove whether or not accommodations are even worth the time. Accommodations can include extended time, read-aloud sessions, test response style, etcetera. In the studies that are mentioned, different types of accommodations were provided, different age groups in different areas of our country. These studies, while having a wide range of age in their participants, all agree on the fact that accommodations should be provided for tests. These studies provide important data

Tests have become the most important indication of a teacher’s success and school’s performance. As a result, teachers may feel the need to ensure that the scores stay high and continue to rise. Teachers tend to cover only what is expected to be on the

If tests play a significant role in grade advancement, or are primary basis for schools accountability, teachers feel compelled to spend considerable time preparing children to take the tests. In such cases, the tests become the school curriculum. Over two to three hours of the school day are devoted to practicing tests and related exercises taking away from time spent on other, more productive activities. Because tests include diverse subject areas, they may not relate directly to what children have been taught and are accustomed to, in addition multiple-choice format of standardized tests confuses many children. Children who have been taught their entire lives to work problems out slowly, as to understand the information better are now told speed is essential.

One could argue that standardized testing does a marvelous job in measuring student’s knowledge, skills and understanding because the exams are objective, fair, efficient, and comprehensive. Due to these reasons, “they are used for decisions about admission to colleges, graduate programs, and professional schools as well as qualification and licensing for many skilled occupations and demanding professions such as law and medicine” (Walberg). Professor Walberg, a member on the of the Koret Task Force of K-12 Education, believes that we should keep the standardized testing because there are research and experience that shows that these tests are generally good at measuring one’s performance. He believes that, “K-12 students who practice demonstrating

Currently, instructors are pressured by state education department to adjust school curricula to meet the expectations of the standardized test. Educators alter the curriculum to “match the [standardized] test” (“How Standardized”). Therefore, instructors are limited and classroom instruction is focused around test preparation for the annual standardized test. Teachers are forced to abandon their creative lessons and “teach the test,” or concentrating only on the material that will be evaluated (“How Standardized”). This frequently involves taking multiple choice tests that are formatted identically to the standardized test and only memorizing facts, formulas, and items included only on the standardized tests (“How Standardized”). Even though test scores may improve, students are not learning how to think critically and perform better in other subjects that are not on the test (“How Standardized”). Instructional time is limited in the other subject areas such as science, social studies, music, and art. Instructors feel “handicapped” and plead to state officials abandon these standardized tests for the sake of the “quality of the instruction in American schools” (Zimmerman 206). School curricula are being modified only to prepare students for a single test, not for education the students need in the future.