By Joe English

This week’s question: “Does standardized testing improve American education?”

Since the mid-1800s, standardized testing has been used to evaluate and compare student progress.  Since 2001, however, use of testing has skyrocketed as a result of “No Child Left Behind”—a federal act mandating detailed testing in all 50 states.  But does extensive testing help or hinder America’s educational system?  Here are some key arguments on both sides of the issue:

Yes, testing significantly improves American education:

1. Standardized testing forces schools to teach at a certain pace and get their students to master a set of basic skills.  For example, they make sure 6^th graders know 6^th grade material, 10^th graders know 10^th grade material, and so on.  These tests are designed to ensure that students are on the same page by the time they graduate—leaving no one “behind.”
2. By forcing schools to use standard tests, states can compare schools and districts more objectively.  Each school has its own level of difficultly, quality of teaching, and grading strategies.  Standardized tests are free of these biases, basing school performance on well-defined criteria that can be easily compared to other schools throughout the state.
3. Under the “No Child Left Behind” Act, districts have to get all genders and racial groups to a basic proficiency level.  Because schools are required to report standardized testing results for each sub-group of students, it is much easier to hold schools accountable for discrimination.
4. By implementing standardized testing at the state level, the foundation is laid for national standardized testing.  National standards would ensure that students across the country are performing at the same level by the time they graduate.  This could help our students compete more effectively in key skill groups with students in other countries.

No, testing does not improve American education:

1. Standardized testing forces educators to teach to the test.  Focusing on a narrow range of specific skills, teachers are often forced to abandon creative activities that may engage students more effectively.  To meet standards, educators are required to follow a very regimented curriculum with little room for exploration.
2. Although standardized testing is federally mandated, states currently develop their own tests and standards.  This allows some states to set artificially low standards to make their schools seem more effective. Further, schools can only be compared within a state, preventing more meaningful comparisons nationally and internationally.
3. Because districts are evaluated based on the percentage of students who are proficient, they spend less time challenging and enriching the academic experience of students who are already proficient.  Instead, many schools focus time and attention on students just below the proficiency level to get them above the threshold required by the test.  As a result, time and money are focused on under-achievers, disadvantaging already-proficient students.
4. Students are often robbed of a wider educational experience.  Schools that need to improve student performance in basic skills often reduce time spent on other subjects, such as art, music, physical education, etc.   By eliminating, electives and other intellectual pursuits, students are robbed of other vital skills necessary for most 21^st-century jobs like problem-solving and enhanced creativity.

So what do you think? Does standardized testing improve the American education system?  Leave a comment below with your opinion, or share other arguments that advocate your side on standardized testing.