Since the mid-1800s standardized testing has been a part of American education. It has gained popularity in recent decades, due to the desire to raise academic achievement levels across the nation. Standardized or “high stakes” testing has become an integral part of modern American education. Standardized tests are designed to be administered in a universal way that eliminates bias in an attempt to assess student knowledge and performance. Though standardized testing is viewed as beneficial for the American educational system there are several flaws in testing.
In the state of Virginia, The Standards of Learning (SOL) is a standardized test that sets expectations in core subjects for grades K-12 in public schools. The Standards of Learning …show more content…
Schools, where students meet or exceed achievement objectives, are rated as “fully accredited” the VDOE in these four content areas. A school’s AYP rating indicates progress being made towards the goals of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which is the No Child Left Behind Act. (VDOE Statistics) This federal law requires states to achieve 100% proficiency by 2014. Another new development announced in 2011, high schools must meet graduation objectives along with meeting the required passing rate on state assessments in the four core subjects for full accreditation. High schools that don’t meet the minimum Graduation Completion Index benchmark, but they do meet all other requirements can earn provisional accreditation by 2015. High schools that achieve the required passing rate but don’t meet the interim graduation and completion benchmarks will be rated as “accredited with warning.” Elementary schools are fully accredited in English with a 75% or higher in grades 3-5; math with a 70% or higher in grades 3-5; Science with a 70% or higher in grade 5 and 50% or higher in grade 3; history with a 70% or higher. Middle schools and high schools are fully accredited if students achieve pass rates of 70% or higher in all four content areas. (VDOE …show more content…
Many teachers are pressured to make sure their kids pass and are put into a position of any means necessary. So you must question the validity of the SOLs. How many of the scores are true? If a teacher’s livelihood is in jeopardy, over a test that they have no input on, what does it mean when you put it on them to have a passing rate by any means necessary? How many teachers or schools will go to that length?
Standardized assessments can be viewed as cultural bias. Working in Richmond City Public schools, I have had the opportunity to experience the overhaul of testing and I see the long-term effects it has on our school and our students. The Virginia Standards of Learning ; will continue to affect the drop-out rate, retention rate and the graduation rate at the high school level if it is nor revamped. The mandate on passing rates affects the morale of both students and teachers. Assessments should be adaptive and student progress should be considered. The student success should be the top
In the state of Virginia, The Standards of Learning (SOL) is a standardized test that sets expectations in core subjects for grades K-12 in public schools. The Standards of Learning …show more content…
Schools, where students meet or exceed achievement objectives, are rated as “fully accredited” the VDOE in these four content areas. A school’s AYP rating indicates progress being made towards the goals of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which is the No Child Left Behind Act. (VDOE Statistics) This federal law requires states to achieve 100% proficiency by 2014. Another new development announced in 2011, high schools must meet graduation objectives along with meeting the required passing rate on state assessments in the four core subjects for full accreditation. High schools that don’t meet the minimum Graduation Completion Index benchmark, but they do meet all other requirements can earn provisional accreditation by 2015. High schools that achieve the required passing rate but don’t meet the interim graduation and completion benchmarks will be rated as “accredited with warning.” Elementary schools are fully accredited in English with a 75% or higher in grades 3-5; math with a 70% or higher in grades 3-5; Science with a 70% or higher in grade 5 and 50% or higher in grade 3; history with a 70% or higher. Middle schools and high schools are fully accredited if students achieve pass rates of 70% or higher in all four content areas. (VDOE …show more content…
Many teachers are pressured to make sure their kids pass and are put into a position of any means necessary. So you must question the validity of the SOLs. How many of the scores are true? If a teacher’s livelihood is in jeopardy, over a test that they have no input on, what does it mean when you put it on them to have a passing rate by any means necessary? How many teachers or schools will go to that length?
Standardized assessments can be viewed as cultural bias. Working in Richmond City Public schools, I have had the opportunity to experience the overhaul of testing and I see the long-term effects it has on our school and our students. The Virginia Standards of Learning ; will continue to affect the drop-out rate, retention rate and the graduation rate at the high school level if it is nor revamped. The mandate on passing rates affects the morale of both students and teachers. Assessments should be adaptive and student progress should be considered. The student success should be the top