Friday, March 12, 2010

Schools Matter: More standardized testing than ever before

Schools Matter: More standardized testing than ever before

More standardized testing than ever before

Sent to USA Today, March 11

I hope readers understand what the adoption of national standards really means: As National Governors Association education director Dane Linn noted in "Tougher national education standards drafted, posted," (March 10), new standards means "improved" standardized tests.
Since the new standards will cover grades K-12, there is the possibility of required standardized tests in every grade. NCLB, heavily criticized because of the massive amount of testing it involved, required standardized tests only grades 3 through 8 and one year in high school.
We can also expect standards and tests in all subjects: The Common Core Standards Initiative FAQ document tells us that once English and math standards are completed, standards will be developed in "science and potentially additional subject areas." NCLB required tests only in English and math.
It is very possible that our children, already badly over-tested, will be subjected to far more standardized testing than ever before, far more than has ever been done in the history of American education.
Is this what we want for our children?

Stephen Krashen


Tougher national education standards drafted, posted
By Greg Toppo, USA TODAY
A year-long effort to lay out the first national standards for schoolchildren in the USA got a full-scale airing Wednesday, as groups developing the measures posted detailed drafts of math and English standards online.
The public can comment until April 2. Final versions are expected by May