Reduce standardized testing to improve accountability, school quality
This was written by Monty Neill, interim executive director at The National Center for Fair & Open Testing, known as FairTest. Neill's argument is hardly surprising given that FairTest has long fought against high-stakes testing, but I think it makes far more sense than our current test obsession. By Monty Neill Last June, I outlined a school assessment and evaluation system that should replace No Child Left Behind’s test-only structure. This is the second of three articles describing how each component would work: comprehensive school quality reviews, annual state tests in a few grades, and local assessments (next). Together, these three pillars of real reform can provide comprehensive evidence of school quality and progress, as well as richer information for teaching and school improvement efforts.