This is the third article in a four-part series that will explore what standardized tests reveal about students, teachers, and schools. These articles will provide an insider’s view (from a teacher and researcher) about what is really going on with standardized tests and what they really reveal. Let’s Start with the Positive In looking back over our two previous articles of this series, it is hard not to look at the facts and see that the cons of standardized tests are far ou

This tale from out team member Dr. Hare provides insight into how curricular decisions are made across the US at the state level. The account gives insight into the effects of top-down curriculum (what we teach) decision making has on students, teachers, and schools. The recent proclamation by the New Mexico Public Education Department (NM PED) Math and Science Bureau touting that they are “STEM Ready!” has resulted in a statewide outcry by teachers, administrators, parents,

This is the second article in a four-part series that will explore what standardized tests reveal about students, teachers, and schools. These articles will provide an insider’s view (from a teacher and researcher) about what is really going on with standardized tests and what they really reveal. Are Standardized Tests all Bad? It would be natural to ask, “If educators say standardized tests are so bad, why do we use them?” Well, there are some positives. First, the tests can

Part I: Understanding Standardized Tests from the Inside This is the first article in a four-part series that will explore what standardized tests reveal about students, teachers, and schools. These articles will provide an insider’s view (from a teacher and researcher) about what is really going on with standardized tests and what they really reveal. A Brief History to Provide Context – It’s Important While standardized testing has increased in visibility to the general publ