Article 1: Student Testing: The Stakes Are Rising
Testing allows schools and states to track student achievement. Schools can then evaluate how well students are performing over time, parents and the community can evaluate how well the schools are performing, and administrators can evaluate how well teachers are performing.
"Through testing we can evaluate the needs and progress of the students and our education reform efforts," says Massachusetts Representative Karyn Polito. "The tests are designed with the intention of having our children excel and be able to compete, not fail."
Critics wonder if these rigorous standards will cause students to become more disillusioned with the education process and inadvertently lead to an increased number of dropouts. There is currently no conclusive evidence that links dropout rates to graduation tests, but in some states with graduation exams, dropout rates are increasing. Numbers of students not graduating have jumped in North Carolina, Georgia, New Mexico, South Carolina and Texas. But in Milwaukee, where students take a rigorous test to graduate, there is a little evidence that the new requirement has had a negative effect on the graduation rate.
Some critics are also concerned about the effects of standardized tests on poor and minority students. A recent report by the National Research Council found that poor, minority students and those with limited command of English are "more likely than others to be placed in lower track classes or denied promotion or graduation on the basis of high stakes test scores."
WHERE DO YOU SET THE PASSING SCORE?
A significant concern for state lawmakers is how and at what percentage the passing score should be set, and who should set it. If the bar is too high, many students will not pass high school or be promoted to the next grade. If the bar is too low, then it doesn't encourage students to reach high levels of achievement.
THE HIGH COSTS OF HIGH STAKES
With the potential of an economic downturn, policymakers are wondering how they can continue to fund high stakes testing and accountability systems. States collectively spent $400 million this year to test students, according to a study done by Stateline, a national news organization focusing on state government. California spent $44 million, followed by Texas at $26 million and Massachusetts at $20 million. The type of test a state uses affects the cost. Off-the-shelf tests cost between $5 and $15 per student to administer. But states that choose to develop their own test aligned with state standards can spend from $25 to $50 per student.
A recent publication by the National Association of State Boards of Education reported that President Bush's proposal to test every student by his proposed 2004 deadline would cost states anywhere from $2.6 billion to $7 billion. The proposal originally included $320 million for testing, sparking concern among states over the cost they would have to shoulder under this mandate. Developing and administering a state exam is only one aspect of testing; states also need to fund the collecting and reporting of student and school performance data, and pay for remedial classes for students who do not pass the exam.
Article 2: No More TESTS!: CHALLENGING STANDARDIZED EDUCATION.
Ways of Learning
Take out your number two pencils, boys and girls—standardized testing season is upon us once again. Children's backpacks will be bursting with test-prep guides and practice exams, classroom calendars will be counting down until the big day, and parents will anxiously await that letter in the mail to find out if their children can advance to the next grade. Thanks to our country's renewed dedication to “high standards and accountability,” our children's education has been turned into a stressful marathon of boredom, superficial thinking, and, of course, filling in the blanks.
Few education “experts” seem interested in taking the advice of Albert Einstein, who warned that “Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts.” In fact, our nation is busier than ever making sure there is a number attached to every child who walks through the schoolhouse gates.
Beyond the Bubbles: Learning without Testing
There is an imaginative, dynamic, and nurturing world beyond standardized testing waiting to take shape. The first question any testing critic is likely to be asked is, “Well, what do you do when you take away the tests?” The easy (and perhaps most accurate) answer is: “start learning.” But thanks to a near century of standardizing the education system, few schools actually know where to begin.
Upon accepting her award as the 2001 Teacher of the Year at a White House ceremony, Michele Forman remarked, “Learning and reaching is messy stuff. It doesn't fit into bubbles. I don't think a simple pencil-and-paper test is going to capture what students know and can do.” Networks of innovative schools are developing methods of assessment that not only allow- others to see what a student is learning, but even motivate kids to keep at it.
One common method of observing a student's progress without assigning a test score is the use of portfolios. A portfolio is a detailed collection of work that allows the student, teacher, and parent to witness how the student's thoughts and work ethic evolve over the months or years. Similarly, at many schools, students display their projects at exhibitions or “learning fairs.” Participants get the opportunity to look at each other's work, ask questions, and then use what they've learned to continue their own educational journeys.
Yet the deeper issue here is not “How can we best assess students?” but “How can we provide the best nurturing learning environment?” When the standardized curriculum leaves the school, the bumper sticker finally becomes true: The world is your classroom.
What exactly would students do without standardized tests? Here are a few ideas: write their own autobiographies, start a garden at their school, interview community members, create their own inventions, hold political debates, read the newspaper, keep a journal, go to a museum, start a book discussion group, or even create their own classes based on their common interests—all the things that no test could ever do for them. In general, the more creativity and student participation that can be added to the highly uncreative standardized curriculum, the better.
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8th grade level
The debate surrounding standardized testing in education has been ongoing for years, and it continues to raise important questions about the effectiveness and impact of this assessment method.
In "Student Testing: The Stakes Are Rising," the article highlights the benefits of testing, such as tracking student achievement over time and evaluating the performance of schools and teachers. By having standardized tests, the intention is to push students to excel and be competitive. However, critics express concerns about the negative effects of high-stakes testing on students, particularly dropout rates and the disadvantages faced by poor and minority students.
On the other hand, "No More TESTS!: CHALLENGING STANDARDIZED EDUCATION" argues against the current state of standardized testing and suggests that it hinders true learning and does not accurately capture a student's knowledge and abilities. The article advocates for a shift towards more alternative methods of assessment, such as portfolios and exhibitions, which focus on a student's individual growth and development. It emphasizes the importance of providing a nurturing learning environment that fosters creativity and student participation.
Based on these arguments, the case against standardized testing seems stronger. While testing can provide valuable data and information, the focus on high-stakes exams has created a stressful environment for students and has not proven to be a reliable measure of true learning and understanding. Adopting alternative assessment methods can allow students to showcase their abilities and interests in a more holistic and engaging manner.
Moreover, the concerns raised in the first article about the costs of high-stakes testing are also valid. As policymakers grapple with budget constraints, it is essential to evaluate whether the significant resources allocated to testing would be better utilized in other areas of education, such as providing additional support and resources to students who need them.
In conclusion, it is essential to reevaluate the role and impact of standardized testing in education. While testing can provide valuable information, it should not be the sole criteria for evaluating a student's abilities and knowledge. Alternative assessment methods that focus on individual growth and encourage creativity and active learning should be considered and implemented to create a more meaningful and effective education system.