Why Do We Need Standardized Testing In Schools?

Each child throughout the school year is required to take standardized tests. These tests help create a better understanding of what each child individually may or may not be learning. This also shows what teachers may or may not need to improve on while teaching the class the necessary standards they will be tested on. What people fail to see about standardized testing is how the scores can help improve each child’s learning ability and the way teachers go over the material. I chose to write about this topic because I have never been a good test taker nor have I been a fan of standardized testing. However, throughout this paper I hope to enlighten everyone on the importance of standardized testing and why they require it throughout schools.
In 2002 the No Child Left Behind Act was passed. This act has helped push standardized testing. “Test data are used to determine which schools are making adequate yearly progress.” (Power and Control) The outcome of standardized testing is to create a better school system for each child. “Standardized testing holds teachers accountable.” (Columbia University, 2013) Standardized tests help show which schools need improvement and when schools need improvement the state is usually willing to provide money in areas that need the most help. These tests help motivate teachers and school administrations to achieve state standards to better maintain an adequate curriculum for each child. People fail to see the good outcome of these tests because they are so focused on why they don not want to require them for students. However, these tests and the results of these tests all around help create a better school system for not only the children, but also the administration, teachers, and parents.
Looking at the big picture, where there is progress and achievement, there are also consequences and negative outcomes. Teachers’ are not big fans of standardized testing because it is not a performance task. It is harder to see the performance task of a child during a standardized test because it is either a paper pencil test or they are required to take it online. This does not leave much room to help teachers improve because without the creativity and being able to see how the child is able to answer the question, they are just seeing the child either got the answer wrong or right. “The high stakes testing under the No Child Left Behind Act has consequences for how teachers and principals are paid, real estate prices, instructional time in the classroom, and profits for corporations making the tests, and contributes to the nationalization of public schools.” (Power and Control) It is sad that this is focused on how someone is paid or how much time a teacher gets in a classroom, when it should be focusing on if the child is really understanding the curriculum, but that is just a small con to all the pros standardized testing does have.
The history behind standardized testing goes back to the 1900’s.
“The earliest record of standardized testing comes from China, where hopefuls for government jobs had to fill out examinations testing their knowledge of Confucian philosophy and poetry.” (Fletcher, 2009) Since then standardized testing has changed extremely. Yes, it has somewhat the same concept, but now standardized testing helps enhance learning programs and creates more money in areas that may lack some important aspects, which comes from the No Child Left Behind Act. “In 1905 French psychologist Alfred Binet began developing a standardized test of intelligence, work that would eventually be incorporated into a version of the modern IQ test, dubbed the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test.” (Fletcher, 2009) This man has allowed multiple opportunities for student education throughout the years. He created a way to provide teachers and school systems with answers to how students may learn and what may be more difficult for students to learn. The outcome of this has helped better the curriculum and created a better way to enhance learning opportunities in school
systems.
In today’s society, standardized testing has changed significantly from when it was created in 1905. This test continues to progress each year and it allows the curriculum to better itself each year. The outcome of this allows students to have a better education and it allows teachers to become better teachers. “The new test, based on the Common Core curriculum standards, are designed to measure critical thinking in a nuanced way.” (L.A. Times, 2016) Standardized testing today expands learning expectations, which creates more room for improvements in the curriculum. This should allow students to have better learning opportunities and these tests should allow the schools to improve each year.
Standardized testing should be something each teacher looks forward to giving because the results from these tests can help better their skills.
“Outside of standardized test results, no objective method exists for policymakers to identify either poor-performing schools needing intervention or high-performing schools deserving rewards.” (Churchill, 2015) Administrations should strive each year to create a curriculum for teachers to teach students to prepare for the standardized testing in hopes of high-test scores because without these tests, we may not know how to improve. It should be motivational for each school because it is a chance to learn and improve as a school system to create the best education for each child. It is a growing experience each year for each school system and standardized testing broadens the horizon by viewing test scores and receiving money for parts of the curriculum that may need more improvement to enhance each child’s learning opportunities. At the end of the day everyone’s goal in each school system is to create a well-rounded and achievable learning atmosphere for each student where they can be successful and improve in every
aspect.
As a school system, the main focus should always be on the students. As a team of teachers and students there should always be meetings talking about what else can be added to create the best learning programs and curriculums possible for each student individually. As an upcoming teacher I think they should add on to standardized testing, which will allow room for creativity and improvement. I think it is important to give a standardized test at the beginning of each school year and at the end. This will allow room for the child to improve and show the teacher the level of learning they accomplished throughout the semester. However, I also think the standardized test should not just be pencil and paper or online. It should be a mixture of multiple choice, writing, and in class projects, etc. This creates a better way to see how each child learns and what they may have trouble learning. This alternative can create a better way for each school to approach how and what they are teaching. It will help each child improve and show creativity.