Introduction High-stakes testing has consistently been a hot topic in education for decades. These tests are used to hold students, teachers, and school districts accountable for academic growth. But, what exactly is a high-stakes test? How did it evolve in education? Why does it matter? What are some of the intended and unintended consequences of high-stakes testing? Also, what arguments do the proponents and critics have about high-stakes testing?
High-Stakes Tests Defined A high-stakes test is a single, defined assessment that has significantly high consequences that are influenced by the score. There is a clear distinction between passing and failing. Furthermore, there are direct consequences outlined for passing or failing the test. …show more content…
They may feel these tests could be used as accountability tools for guaranteeing that all students learn what they are expected to learn. This will warrant that approaches like RTI are used to provide interventions for lagging and or struggling learners to promote mastery of essential skills. Also, high-stakes may increase the motivation to learn. In turn, the students will take the test more seriously and work harder. In addition, they can disclose areas of instructive weakness that can be focused on for improvement and reform. Furthermore, these tests provide data that is easy to understand about the school and student performance in the form of numerical test scores. Finally, high-stakes test give parents, employers, colleges, and others more assurance that students are obtaining the essential skills they will need to succeed and become productive and contributing members of …show more content…
Narrowing the curriculum by excluding subject matter that is not tested.
2. Excluding topics not tested or not likely to appear on the test even within tested subjects.
3. Reducing learning to the memorization of facts easily recalled for multiple-choice testing.
4. Devoting too much classroom time to test preparation rather than learning. Furthermore, high stakes tests only evaluate students once a year. They do not take in the consideration of the progress has made overall.
Conclusion
Assessments have and will always be a part of education. It is imperative to know if the students are acquiring key skills that will help them be productive and contributing members of society. However should we use high-stakes tests as a way to hold students, teachers, and school districts accountable? Theodore Sizer stated “Assessment, thus, has many functions. It is only as good as its instruments, and it is defensible only to the extent that it actively forwards, and enhances a child’s learning.” Assessments should be used as guides to meet children were they are and propel them were they need to be and
High-Stakes Tests Defined A high-stakes test is a single, defined assessment that has significantly high consequences that are influenced by the score. There is a clear distinction between passing and failing. Furthermore, there are direct consequences outlined for passing or failing the test. …show more content…
They may feel these tests could be used as accountability tools for guaranteeing that all students learn what they are expected to learn. This will warrant that approaches like RTI are used to provide interventions for lagging and or struggling learners to promote mastery of essential skills. Also, high-stakes may increase the motivation to learn. In turn, the students will take the test more seriously and work harder. In addition, they can disclose areas of instructive weakness that can be focused on for improvement and reform. Furthermore, these tests provide data that is easy to understand about the school and student performance in the form of numerical test scores. Finally, high-stakes test give parents, employers, colleges, and others more assurance that students are obtaining the essential skills they will need to succeed and become productive and contributing members of …show more content…
Narrowing the curriculum by excluding subject matter that is not tested.
2. Excluding topics not tested or not likely to appear on the test even within tested subjects.
3. Reducing learning to the memorization of facts easily recalled for multiple-choice testing.
4. Devoting too much classroom time to test preparation rather than learning. Furthermore, high stakes tests only evaluate students once a year. They do not take in the consideration of the progress has made overall.
Conclusion
Assessments have and will always be a part of education. It is imperative to know if the students are acquiring key skills that will help them be productive and contributing members of society. However should we use high-stakes tests as a way to hold students, teachers, and school districts accountable? Theodore Sizer stated “Assessment, thus, has many functions. It is only as good as its instruments, and it is defensible only to the extent that it actively forwards, and enhances a child’s learning.” Assessments should be used as guides to meet children were they are and propel them were they need to be and