Was the no “child left behind act” of 2002 a lawful decision of congress? Namely this act required that schools administer yearly math and language test to students in grades one through twelve (NewYorkTimes). These tests are used to observe students intelligence. Furthermore they can help the government establish the correct amount of funding a school receives. Standardized tests have a negative impact on society. These tests are unreliable and are narrowing student curriculum.
Standardized tests are an unreliable way to measure student competency. For example in “2001 a study found that test score improvements were caused by temporary fluxuations and were not permanent” (ProCon). One test a year does not measure the full range of learning …show more content…
For example, “since 2001 44 percent of schools had reduced time spent on history, science and the arts by almost 145 minutes a week” (NewYorkTimes). Since these tests reflect a schools and districts success many schools will focus more on the texted topics in order to receive higher scores. Furthermore many teachers will limit time spent on science and history because the test refects how well they taught and, consequently, how much they get paid. For example, if a teacher was getting graded on language and math but not history, which do you think that they would focus on? Finally these tests also encourage teachers to cheat this system for their own gain. As an illustration “178 Atlanta public school teachers and administrators from 44 schools were found to be cheating on standardized tests according to a July 2011 state report” (ProCon). In other words these tests are an easy opportunity for teachers to raise their pay and reward unreliably. In conclusion because of standardized tests schools are spending less time on history, science, and there arts in order to receive better …show more content…
However while these tests when only taking about an hour to take are using instruction time for test preparation. For example, “many schools imposed extra measures to avoid being shut down, including daily two and a half hour prep sessions and test practice on vacation days” (ProCon). Since testing scores are so important to schools they put test preparation above anything else. Furthermore the tests are expensive. As an illustration Texas spent “$9 million in 2003 to test students, while the cost to Texas taxpayers from 2009 through 2012 is projected to be around $88 million per year” (NewYorkTimes). In other words these tests are consuming large amounts of taxpayers’ money. Finally standardized tests are known to make time consuming and costly errors. For example, “Florida's Comprehensive Assessment Test, delivered the 2010 results more than a month late and their accuracy was challenged by over half the state's superintendents” (ProCon). These tests, while appearing to be an improvement on education are actually destroying it.
In brief, standardized tests are not only unreliable but are also narrowing curriculum. These tests have been a part of our society for so long that we are afraid to step away from them. Furthermore standardized tests impact a student’s job capability and collage applicability. While these tests may not seem important they
Standardized tests are an unreliable way to measure student competency. For example in “2001 a study found that test score improvements were caused by temporary fluxuations and were not permanent” (ProCon). One test a year does not measure the full range of learning …show more content…
For example, “since 2001 44 percent of schools had reduced time spent on history, science and the arts by almost 145 minutes a week” (NewYorkTimes). Since these tests reflect a schools and districts success many schools will focus more on the texted topics in order to receive higher scores. Furthermore many teachers will limit time spent on science and history because the test refects how well they taught and, consequently, how much they get paid. For example, if a teacher was getting graded on language and math but not history, which do you think that they would focus on? Finally these tests also encourage teachers to cheat this system for their own gain. As an illustration “178 Atlanta public school teachers and administrators from 44 schools were found to be cheating on standardized tests according to a July 2011 state report” (ProCon). In other words these tests are an easy opportunity for teachers to raise their pay and reward unreliably. In conclusion because of standardized tests schools are spending less time on history, science, and there arts in order to receive better …show more content…
However while these tests when only taking about an hour to take are using instruction time for test preparation. For example, “many schools imposed extra measures to avoid being shut down, including daily two and a half hour prep sessions and test practice on vacation days” (ProCon). Since testing scores are so important to schools they put test preparation above anything else. Furthermore the tests are expensive. As an illustration Texas spent “$9 million in 2003 to test students, while the cost to Texas taxpayers from 2009 through 2012 is projected to be around $88 million per year” (NewYorkTimes). In other words these tests are consuming large amounts of taxpayers’ money. Finally standardized tests are known to make time consuming and costly errors. For example, “Florida's Comprehensive Assessment Test, delivered the 2010 results more than a month late and their accuracy was challenged by over half the state's superintendents” (ProCon). These tests, while appearing to be an improvement on education are actually destroying it.
In brief, standardized tests are not only unreliable but are also narrowing curriculum. These tests have been a part of our society for so long that we are afraid to step away from them. Furthermore standardized tests impact a student’s job capability and collage applicability. While these tests may not seem important they