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This article discusses how under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), that every state requires annual statewide testing in ELA and math for grades 3-8. The annual testing is carried out into high school as well.

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Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states must continue annual statewide tests in reading/language arts and mathematics to all students in grades 3-8 and once in high school, as well as in science at least once in each of grades 3-5, 6-9, and 10-12. State assessments must align with the full breadth and depth of state academic content standards and measure student achievement based on challenging college- and career-ready state academic achievement standards or based on alternate academic achievement standards. The ESSA reauthorization affirms the importance of statewide assessment as a way to provide annual measures of student progress, while shifting away from standardized testing and allowing for flexibility in states' approaches to assessment.

Provisions as outlined in Title I, parts A and B, of ESSA aim to clarify new flexibilities for states and districts to ensure that state assessments continue to be fair, relevant, and high-quality, provide more useful and timely feedback to educators, parents, and students, and serve as models for adoption by other states. These new flexibilities offer states the option to use a variety of new assessment models, including performance tasks and simulations, competency-based assessments, computer-adaptive assessments, and multiple assessments (e.g., curriculum-embedded, interim, or through-course tests) administered throughout the year. ESSA encourages innovative approaches to assessment that reduce duplicative testing and ensure that assessment results provide transparent, consistent information about student achievement.

The requirements for assessment models under ESSA include: 1) producing an annual summative determination of grade-level achievement aligned to state standards, 2) measuring a student's academic proficiency based on challenging state academic standards for the grade in which the student is enrolled, 3) allowing for disaggregated assessment data (by gender, racial and ethnic group, disability status, etc.) and individual score reports, and 4) providing understandable information to parents, including those with disabilities or limited English proficiency.

ESSA specifies that statewide assessments must adhere to high expectations for students' college- and career-readiness, and must measure higher-order thinking skills, including reasoning, analysis, problem solving, and communication. To ensure that assessments are rigorous, fair, and of high quality, states must submit evidence to the Department of Education that their assessment system meets statutory and regulatory requirements. In addition, states must make publicly available the evidence that assessments meet nationally recognized testing standards and quality requirements.

For more information about ESSA, please visit: https://www.ed.gov/esea

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Federal Requirements for State Assessments – Strengthening Claims-based Interpretations and Uses of Local and Large-scale Science Assessment Scores

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Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states must continue annual statewide tests in reading/language arts and mathematics to all students in grades 3-8 and once in high school, as well as in science at least once in each of grades 3-5, 6-9, and 10-12. State assessments must align with the full breadth and depth of state academic content standards and measure student achievement based on challenging college- and career-ready state academic achievement standards or based on alternate academic achievement standards. The ESSA reauthorization affirms the importance of statewide assessment as a way to provide annual measures of student progress, while shifting away from standardized testing and allowing for flexibility in states’ approaches to assessment.

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There are many pros and cons to standardized testing. This articles gives some examples of the different benefits and negative impacts that standardized testing has.

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A standardized test is any type of test in which all test takers must address the same questions or subset of questions from a shared pool. Standardized testing creates a baseline for measuring student performance among districts, maintains teacher responsibility, and aids educators while developing their curriculum.

The Need for Standardized Tests

When assessing student comprehension or competency in a particular subject area, a given teacher may use a variety of methods. Given the subjective nature of individual teacher and district assessments, standardized tests allow for less probability of subjective bias when scoring responses. To complete exam questions for these types of tests, the time allotment is the same for each student, and the use of multiple-choice or true-false problems increases the chance of neutral and accurate outcomes.

In the United States, standardized testing begins in elementary (primary) school. For roughly half of the nation, a Kindergarten competency test is mandatory. Students frequently take the ACT or SAT while applying to universities. Individuals take the LSAT when applying to law school and the MCAT if they are applying to medical school.

The following are reasons why standardized tests are prevalent in United States school systems:

Assessing data and performing quantitative analysis of that data are both design goals for standardized assessment exams. This enables schools to benchmark and evaluate their students' performance against the representative sample used in the standardization process using the final published assessments.

A child's standardized test scores could help teachers decide how to address knowledge gaps in a particular subject.

School administrators can also use test scores to figure out if specific teachers need more training. If some classes are underperforming relative to state standards, more teacher training may need to be completed.

Benefits of Standardized Tests

Since the middle of the nineteenth century, standardized examinations have been used in the United States to measure student achievement.
Standardized testing can:
The objective of standardized is to set a baseline for comparison. Any form of assessment outside of school curricula, which might vary considerably within different education departments, can help a school system compare students from varied backgrounds because all the students took the same test. It becomes easier to evaluate and score individuals when they are measured against a common standard.

Standardized exams can show student improvement over time by taking the same tests over time. In addition, student test scores can also be easily compared to each other to show changes in progress.

Ideally, standardized exams assist in defining bigger academic standards for schools across states and the nation. By measuring student achievement, standardized exams can also inform educational policies. School principals and governments are aware that if students in a specific school or district are struggling to achieve at a grade level, the school administration and community stakeholders should intervene and offer help.

Negative Impacts of Standardized Testing

Students who are mindful of patterns can guess answers on a standardized exam based on questions where they definitely know the answers. Thus, high exam results aren't always indicative of student comprehension. According to Brookings, up to 80% of test score gains might have little to do with long-term learning improvements.

While advocates claim that standardized examinations give an objective assessment of student success, the facts are more nuanced. Evidence reveals that socioeconomic class, rather than schooling or grade level, is the biggest predictor of SAT achievement. Opponents of the SAT contend that injustice emerges because wealthier families have the money and effort to invest in test practice tools and services.

Another allegation is that standardized testing could make previously successful students doubt themselves and their abilities. Many students suffer from test anxiety, which means they don't perform at their best while taking an exam since the experience of taking a test is so upsetting to them.

Between 2001 and 2007, school systems in the United States cut the average time spent on social studies, creative subjects, and science by more than 40%, according to the Center for Education Policy. Consequently, the average student lost more than 2 hours of teaching time in these disciplines to focus on standardized exam topics like reading and arithmetic.

In a Nutshell

Standardized testing has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Nevertheless, these assessments allow educators to compare student knowledge to identify learning gaps. It is important to note that even if a student has an in-depth understanding of a particular course, not every student may perform well on a test. However, knowing a lot about a subject can help anyone be a more knowledgeable and prepared exam taker.

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Standardized Tests: The Benefits and Impacts of Implementing Standardized Tests | Education Advanced, Inc.

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Standardized testing has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Nevertheless, these assessments allow educators to compare student knowledge to identify learning gaps.

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This quick video gives multiple examples of the pros and cons to standardized testing. I feel that the cons overpower the pros.

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Standardized Testing: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

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Based on this article from 2021, I think that if there are improvements in standardized testing, many people may not be opposed to the idea of it. However, these improvements must be made so that peoples opinions on the policy change.

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Students are the ones that are taking these standardized tests. They are the ones that feel the pressure of them. As a student myself, I believe that my opinion matters the most and that all students should have a say on the policy.

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Standardized testing takes place every year. 20-30 hours each school year are used on standardized tests. Students spend long periods of time studying and preparing for standardized tests that aren't very important.

Standardized testing affects mental health negatively. Standardized testing has high standards that many students fear. These types of tests also cause many parents to expect a certain score for their child. This can cause many mental issues as students are studying for long periods of time and stressing about a test.

According to soeoline.com, "Standardized testing causes headaches, sleep problems, depression, anxiety, stress and attendance issues".

Standardized testing is also, in some cases, ineffective. Many questions on the test are randomized and may not even cover what a teacher has taught. It is also a test for the teachers in a way. They have to teach to enhance positive performance on the test instead of teaching students to fully comprehend the material.

"Tests pressure students to prove how good they are at the material they covered. Report cards of schools don't reflect the true quality of students and educators"(Worldlink.com)."

While some might argue that standardized tests are beneficial, the test causes a period of stress for students. It also creates tension between peers and teachers. Some students feel they need to better themselves or change how they are just to please colleges and parents. No student should have to feel that way.

According to lionstale.org, "Students can face increased pressure from parents and peers to do better and be "smarter".

Standardized tests also take a toll on students' social lives and activities. When students are preparing for the test, many have to give up important social time and activities that they participate in outside of school. It causes students to have to pick between doing good on a test or doing something they are passionate about.

Standardized testing clearly causes many issues in kids and teachers' lives. Students should not be forced to participate in a test that tests much more than intelligence but also tests your will and mental power. Standardized testing takes a toll on students' free time, social skills, mental health and parental relationships.

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Standardized testing takes place every year. 20-30 hours each school year are used on standardized tests. Students spend long periods of time studying and preparing for standardized tests that aren't very important. Standardized testing affects mental health negatively. Standardized testing has high standards that many students fear.

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Analysis on Standardized Testing