High Stakes Testing Essay

According to Drake, convincing evidence shows “unintended consequences of high-stakes testing (pp. 28).” These consequences include but are not limited to a narrowing of the curriculum, the failure to retain students so their knowledge can be enhanced, or an increased number of students encouraged to be placed in special education. When the stakes are held to such a high level and are attached to a person’s reputation or school funding, teachers can often resort to “teaching to the test” which is an ineffective teaching practice and may not be seen as relevant to the students. These teaching strategies can result in students remembering content for a short term and not having a real grasp on the material. With the pressures of accountability comes inconsistent teaching practices and the production of fearful teachers who are constantly concerned about how students will perform. These “unintended consequences” aforementioned produce classrooms where rote memorization and call and response become the norm. Evidence for Claim Two …show more content…
She suggests that teachers find ways in which these skills and understandings overlap through the curriculum mapping process. Drake states when teachers use the “design down curriculum planning process”, “Teachers see firsthand the overlap in curriculum standards…this makes it easier to talk about potential connections (pp. 45).” When teachers work together to unpack standards, see the Big Ideas, and find the overlap in content and skills, they can create relevant units that are standards-driven and relevant