Standardized Testing Case Study Summary

Analysis This case exposes the issues of equality in the education system, and more specifically, within standardized testing. Standardized testing is a set metric used to measure the academic ability of all students who take the test. However, as is illuminated in the case of Lara and Roy, this kind of metric only reveals a small piece of information about some students’ academic achievement. Lara’s creativity and Roy’s social skills were invisible to eyes of the standardized tests, and as a result, they were penalized for, not their own, but for the tests’ shortcomings. In addition, this case also brings forth the question of how early in their academic career should children be exposed to these types of tests. These tests were implemented to prepare students for their future middle school and high school careers. However, the role of elementary school is not limited to just preparing children academically, but it is also for nurturing social skills needed for students to communicate with their peers and helping children build confidence and esteem. These kind of standardized tests that were taken at Resembool may prioritize the role of academically preparing the students while sacrificing or demeaning other essential roles that elementary schooling must play. Principal Elric is faced with a difficult decision
Charlotte’s complaints by asking around the school for other teachers’ thoughts and opinions on the standardized testing reform and take action accordingly based on the feedback he receives. He should ask each of the other faculty members if their students are having similar experiences to children such as Lara and Roy. Then, if Ms. Charlotte’s concern are echoed by her colleagues, he should go to his superiors, backed with the complaints of these teachers and request a change in policy. This course of action is the best solution and is back by several ethical