Assessments Hold Schools, States and Nations Accountable...

According to IRA standards, â€Å"the primary purpose of assessment is to improve teaching and learning† (International Reading Association, n.d.). This connotation would seem to contradict the uselessness of focused teacher-testing in today’s classroom during the major assessment phase of the school year. However, according to Johnson and Johnson (2002) and Steward (2004), they believe that assessments are useful in holding schools, states and nations, accountable throughout the educational process for student learning (as cited in Richardson, Morgan, Fleener, 2009). As many of us educators in this district know, this accountability could be seen in our state’s profienciency exam, State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR ®),†¦show more content†¦It is important to note that no matter what type of evaluation is used the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) calls for using strategies that are ensured to work in the education and assessment of our students (Richardson, Morgan, Fleener, 2009). However, it appears that this piece of legislation causes panic whenever a statistic is concerned. In fact, it has even been called a type of American education flu, indicating a panic that arises when our politicians and educational administrators see America’s education level falling beneath that of other developed countries (Gross, 2002). The ripple effect that is caused by low scores on standardized tests result in dire consequences for both students and teachers. Because the consequences are negatively impacting teachers which then can impede student growth, support for educators has been recently emphasized by the Commission on NCLB (2007). This amended policy not only called for significant educator support but also for fair, accurate and quality options for students to demonstrate their levels of competency. Throughout the school district there has been a sudden surge to hire highly qualified teachers, especially for core subjects. For the district’s current teachers, this means that the team they will work with in the future and the future team leaders will have gone through extensive educational requirements and professionalShow MoreRelatedAlfie Kohn Literature Review Essay1102 Words   |  5 PagesSince the implementation of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), schools and society have taken a different perspective on how to assess the student‘s progress. Schools are forced to make decisions based on assessments and how to show adequate yearly progress (AYP). Alfie Kohn points out that, in some cases, our students have become victims of standardize testing. In his article, Standardized Testing and Its Victims (2000), he demonstrates how testing have become detrimental to our students instead ofRead MoreWhy Is A Standards Based Education Problematic? Essay759 Words   |  4 Pageseducation as â€Å"an attempt to develop clear, measurable descriptions of what learners should know a nd be able to do as a result of their education† (Armstrong, et al., 20). †¢ Elliot Eisner, an education specialist, states that one of the goals of a standards based education is to hold schools accountable (Armstrong, et al., 20). He also suggests that proponents of Standards-based education â€Å"Inappropriately view schooling as something like a horse race or an educational Olympics† (Armstrong, et al., 21). ThisRead MoreStandardized Testing Is Not Be Completely Honest I Do Not Know About Standardized Test1151 Words   |  5 Pagespurpose, does standardize test benefit students, teachers or schools and are they truly beneficial to my child s education. Standardize test are a result from that No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The NCLB became a law in 2002 by President George W. Bush. The reason for NCLB was a growing concern that the American education system was no longer internationally competitive ­Ã‚ ­ - significantly increased the federal role in holding schools responsible for the academic progress of all students. (KleinRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography Essay1319 Words   |  6 Pagesto standardized testing for student assessment. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2015, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2012/11/02/an-alternative-to-standardized-testing-for-student-assessment/ This article focuses on methods that could take the place of standardized testing. It also points out that the No Child Left Behind act has killed many school practices. This article also states that no other nation test’s as much as the United States. Do Standardized Tests Show an AccurateRead More Parents for Public Schools Essay example615 Words   |  3 Pages Parents for Public Schools nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Today, the push for more accountability of student performance changed how assessment will be measured and judged in public schools. Not only will students be assessed through test scores, but also through attendance, school work, and observations. Parents hold the schools responsible for the advancement of their students’ knowledge. Different tests are given to measure their intelligence level which is either used to compare one student toRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1302 Words   |  6 Pagesidentify schools who are lacking in successful educational processes neither harm school districts through unequal distribution of power, nor negatively affect students’ learning; rather, it benefits students, faculty, and districts by encouraging student success and aiding in improvements for school curriculums. Standardized Testing assists schools by yielding results that illustrate the academic strengths and weaknesses of students within that school, which may be used to hold school districtsRead MoreStandardized Testing Is Not Be Completely Honest, I Do Not Know About Standardized Test1363 Words   |  6 Pagespurpose, does standardize test benefit students, teachers or schools and are they truly beneficial to my child s education. Standardize test is a result from that No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The NCLB became a law in 2002 by President George W. Bush. The reason for NCLB was a growing concern that the American education system was no longer internationally competitive ­Ã‚ ­ - significantly increased the federal role in holding schools responsible for the academic progress of all students. (KleinRead MoreStandardized Testing And The School Entrance Examination Board- Or Sat Began1424 Words   |  6 Pageseducation curriculum when â€Å"the common school movement began in earnest in the 1830s in New England as reformers†¦ began to argue successfully for a greater government role in the schooling of all children† (â€Å"Common School†). â€Å"By 1845 in the United States, public education advocate Horace Mann was calling for standardized essay testing† (Mathews), because he believed that â€Å"political stability and social harmony depended on universal education† (â₠¬Å"Common School†), and that these tests would help teachersRead MoreElementary School Essay904 Words   |  4 PagesOrganization The organization chosen is in education for Elementary School. I choose the school where I’m currently employed. The school is part of the Orange County is in Central Florida, Orange County is the regions most populous county and includes the City of Orlando, as well as twelve other incorporated cities. The population of Orange County is 90% urban and 10% rural. Orange County Public Schools serves a diverse population that includes urban (Orlando), suburban and even rural communities;Read MoreAccountability : High Performance And Not Fear Or Stress870 Words   |  4 Pages Accountability is about being willing to hold yourself to a standard that improves the performance of others by having a willingness to be held accountable for them. It should not be defined as a punitive response to something going wrong (2010). In other words, accountability should be about high performance and not fear or stress. Accountability should drive positive change in behavior, processes, and culture, while encouraging continuous improvement and innovation (Garner, 2011). Accountability