High Stakes Testing Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Education Essays

High Stakes Testing In 1997, President Bill Clinton stated that the United States needed, â€Å" a national crusade for education standards - not federal government standards, but national standards, representing what all our students must know to succeed in the knowledge economy of the twenty-first century†(http://books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/13.html). The way to succeed in this journey is through standardized testing that results in consequences for teachers and students. Throughout this paper, I will be discussing how important high stakes testing is to our country. First, I will show how these tests prevent students from moving on to the next grade level or graduate without the skills necessary. Secondly, I will discuss how they improve students’ achievement. And lastly, I will describe how these tests keep teachers and schools accountable. High stakes testing prevents students from being promoted or given a diploma without the necessary knowledge. The National Academies Press states, â€Å"unless we test student’s knowledge, how will we know if they have met the standards? And the idea of accountability, which is also central to this theory of school reform, requires that the test results have direct and immediate consequences: a student who does not meet the standard should not be promoted, or awarded a high school diploma†(books.nap.edu). Social promotion is allowing a student to move up a grade just because of their age. Standardized testing is helping students by keeping them back a grade or having them attend summer school in order for them to learn the skills they need in order to succeed in school and life. Recent facts have shown how often children have been promoted without the necessary knowledge. ... ... National Academies Press. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http:// books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/164.html 3. National Academies Press. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http:// books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/13.html 4. National Academies Press. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http:// books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/115.html 5. Aims Performance Standards (High School). Arizona Department of Education. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ade.state.az.us/standards/aims/PerformanceStandards/hsperformancestan.asp 6. What’s Wrong With High Stakes Testing in General and AIMS in Particular? AZ Standards. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.azstandards.org/protestmaterials.htm High Stakes Testing Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Education Essays High Stakes Testing In 1997, President Bill Clinton stated that the United States needed, â€Å" a national crusade for education standards - not federal government standards, but national standards, representing what all our students must know to succeed in the knowledge economy of the twenty-first century†(http://books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/13.html). The way to succeed in this journey is through standardized testing that results in consequences for teachers and students. Throughout this paper, I will be discussing how important high stakes testing is to our country. First, I will show how these tests prevent students from moving on to the next grade level or graduate without the skills necessary. Secondly, I will discuss how they improve students’ achievement. And lastly, I will describe how these tests keep teachers and schools accountable. High stakes testing prevents students from being promoted or given a diploma without the necessary knowledge. The National Academies Press states, â€Å"unless we test student’s knowledge, how will we know if they have met the standards? And the idea of accountability, which is also central to this theory of school reform, requires that the test results have direct and immediate consequences: a student who does not meet the standard should not be promoted, or awarded a high school diploma†(books.nap.edu). Social promotion is allowing a student to move up a grade just because of their age. Standardized testing is helping students by keeping them back a grade or having them attend summer school in order for them to learn the skills they need in order to succeed in school and life. Recent facts have shown how often children have been promoted without the necessary knowledge. ... ... National Academies Press. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http:// books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/164.html 3. National Academies Press. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http:// books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/13.html 4. National Academies Press. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http:// books.nap.edu/books/0309062802/html/115.html 5. Aims Performance Standards (High School). Arizona Department of Education. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ade.state.az.us/standards/aims/PerformanceStandards/hsperformancestan.asp 6. What’s Wrong With High Stakes Testing in General and AIMS in Particular? AZ Standards. Retrieved November 10, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.azstandards.org/protestmaterials.htm