Why the DOE's move to test preschool children is wrong
The latest proposal from Duncan's Department of Education is to expand testing of children to preschool age, especially for children in poverty. Stephen Krashen, a retired but distinguished educator, addresses this in a guest posting in Anthony Cody's Living in Dialogue blog for Education Week Teacher. Titled Stephen Krashen: Race to the Top for Tots: Don't Measure the Temperature of the Fire - Put it Out!, I recommend that those interested in the topic read it. Krashen provides well-documented arguments against the approach, which on the surface might seem to make sense - after all, more than 20% of our young people live in poverty and screening them as to their cognitive, emotional and physical development appears to be a necessary first step to determining how to address deficiencies. Krashen notes the requirements:
The standards and tests include "all (sic!!) of the Essential Domains of School Readiness" (Selection Criteria, section B (3)). This means setting detailed standards and testing children in mathematics and literacy, and as well "a progression of standards for ensuring children's health and safety, ensuring that health and behavioral screening and follow up are done, and promoting