Tempest in a Textbook

[DavidRoss]

A lot of good points.   

There is a side effect of the standardized testing is that the education will be geared to passing the standards (national or otherwise), which, no matter how good they are, which also means focusing on getting the majority to pass-- and not addressing the gifted or special needs students. As long as the standardized testing does not reflect different needs , even the best set of comprehensive standards will perpetuate the problem.

Catch 22.  Without standards and assessment testing, it's difficult to come up with an objective way of determining success.  On the other hand, teaching to the test almost guarantees that education isn't happening.

[karlhenning]

On the other hand, teaching to the test almost guarantees that education isn't happening.

QFT !!!

[bwv 1080]

testing would work better on a pass / fail basis

at my daughter's elem school, which is mainly populated by the children of highly educated people in the oil & gas industry, they could spend zero time on the test and get a decent grade.  Instead, the administration is incented to maintain an "exemplary" rating meaning the test scores are in the top 90-something percentile.  So an inordinate amount of time is spent teaching the test just so students get the few marginal questions right that will earn the school its exemplary rating.