Tests, Testing, and Genuine School Reform: A Hoover Institution Press Publication

By Chester E. Finn, Jr., Michael J. Petrilli, and Edward B. Fiske

Hoover Institution Press Publication 610

Tests, Testing, and Genuine School Reform (Hoover Institution Press Publication Book 610)

by Herbert J. Walberg

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	428 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	121 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

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3,000 words

September 2005

In recent years, there has been a growing debate about the role of testing in school reform. Some argue that testing is essential for improving student achievement, while others argue that it is a distraction from the real work of teaching and learning. In this article, we will explore the different perspectives on testing and provide our own recommendations for how testing can be used to improve schools.

The Different Perspectives on Testing

There are a number of different perspectives on the role of testing in school reform. Some of the most common arguments for testing include:

• Testing can help to identify students who are struggling and need additional support.
• Testing can provide feedback to teachers on how well their students are learning.
• Testing can help to hold schools accountable for their performance.

Some of the most common arguments against testing include:

• Testing can be stressful for students and teachers.
• Testing can narrow the curriculum and lead to teaching to the test.
• Testing can be used to punish schools and teachers that do not meet certain standards.

Our Recommendations for How Testing Can Be Used to Improve Schools

We believe that testing can be a valuable tool for improving schools, but only if it is used in the right way. We recommend the following:

• Use testing to identify students who are struggling and need additional support.
• Use testing to provide feedback to teachers on how well their students are learning.
• Use testing to help schools identify areas where they need to improve.
• Use testing to hold schools accountable for their performance, but do so in a way that is fair and equitable.

We believe that by following these recommendations, we can use testing to improve schools and help all students succeed.

Testing is a complex issue with no easy answers. However, we believe that testing can be a valuable tool for improving schools, but only if it is used in the right way. By following the recommendations outlined in this article, we can use testing to help all students succeed.

About the Authors

Chester E. Finn, Jr., is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and the former assistant secretary for educational research and improvement at the U.S. Department of Education. Michael J. Petrilli is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and the former executive director of the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation. Edward B. Fiske is a former education editor of the New York Times and the author of several books on education, including the bestselling "Fiske Guide to Colleges." Find more at hoover.org.

Tests, Testing, and Genuine School Reform (Hoover Institution Press Publication Book 610)

by Herbert J. Walberg

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	428 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	121 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE