The Use of Standardized Tests

Last night, when I finished my last blog entry, I began to think about the implications that standardized test scores have on almost everything. Who is to say that students who are failing tests are not learning? Perhaps they have not learned how to properly take tests. As I am sure most of you realize, test taking is not always about what you know but how well you can tackle an exam. If you are a student who just can't deal with standardized tests, then you will not be able to pass the exam - even if you do know the material.

I am also sure that you know that many standardized exams are accused of being racial biased.  Exams often include questions that are not culturally relevant to African American and Latino students. For instance, not all inner-city students would know what a yacht is and a question about that would confuse them (think about those analogy questions on all standardized exams). So while the student have known the response if it read "boat" or "large boat", they automatically become confused because they are unfamiliar with the word "yacht". Questions such as these bring down the test scores of inner-city children.

If there are obviously issues with using standardized test scores as a way of measuring academic achievement, why use them at all? Well, obviously there is nothing better at the moment. How else would you compare a student at one school with another. Grades are subject to be different based on the teacher and even more so if the curriculum is not the same at all schools in the state. But even though it is the only way, does it make it right?

Probably not. Especially when districts are using standardized test scores to determine whether or not schools are failing. Are standardized tests destroying the education system - especially for inner cities? Also, who is to say that teachers alone are responsible for test scores? If students are unwilling to learn, what can teachers do? If parents are not supportive of their children and do not help their students with homework, how can teachers be truly effective?

Ironically enough, I woke up this morning to an e-mail from EducationNews.org. One of the articles that was listed in this e-mail was titled "Ravitch: The Death and Life of the Great American School System". The article is a review of a book with the same title "The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Test and Choice Are Undermining Education" by Ravitch.

The author quotes the book by stating "Schools do not exist in isolation. They are part of the larger society. Schooling requires the active participation of many, including students, families, public officials, local organizations, and the larger community." Therefore, we cannot hold only teachers accountable for test scores. In the final chapter of the book, a series of statements are made. Two of which are "Schools will not improve if we value only what tests measure." and "Schools will not improve if we rely exclusively on tests as the means of deciding the fate of students, teachers, principals, and schools."

I could not agree more and I am adding this book to my must-read list.

The Use of Standardized Tests