Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Don't forget the real problem with testing

Sent to the Fort-Worth Star Telegram, August , 2016

The problems described in "STAAR Struck" (August 7) can  eventually be solved, or at least reduced enough to stop complaints from coming. The testing boondoggle will continue, however, with more and more testing in various forms, despite evidence that more testing does not lead to more achievement. 
I suspect that the tests are flawed on purpose, in order to encourage resistance and debate over details. When repairs are made, it will give critics a sense of accomplishment, while they forget what the real problem is: huge sums of money wasted on tests that have never been shown to do students any good, while genuine educational needs are unmet. 
Stephen Krashen
Professor Emeritus
University of Southern California


http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/northeast-tarrant/article94254042.html

More testing does not lead to more achievement.  Nichols, S., Glass, G., and Berliner, D. 2006. High-stakes testing and student achievement: Does accountability increase student learning? Education Policy Archives 14(1). http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v14n1/. OECD. 


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