Irreconcilable Differences on Student Testing
Few things can start up an argument faster than the role of student standardized tests. They are blamed for narrowing the curriculum and giving the public a false perception of the state of public education. Some think they should be used to evaluate teachers and establish pay scales. Others decry their use even as a measure to evaluate student performance – unless the scores rise.
There are a lot of very smart people out there trying to bring these sides together to craft some sort of system or compromise that would allow student scores to be factored into evaluations of teachers and schools, without losing sight of the many variables that enter into student outcomes. In some locations, they have even succeeded.
I think they are wasting their time.
The debate over performance pay is a good example. Statements from the National Education Association consistently mention opposition to the practice “based on student test scores.” Proponents then figure if they
There are a lot of very smart people out there trying to bring these sides together to craft some sort of system or compromise that would allow student scores to be factored into evaluations of teachers and schools, without losing sight of the many variables that enter into student outcomes. In some locations, they have even succeeded.
I think they are wasting their time.
The debate over performance pay is a good example. Statements from the National Education Association consistently mention opposition to the practice “based on student test scores.” Proponents then figure if they