Urban school systems in the U.S. give too many tests, says a new study. President Obama agrees. In an open letter to parents, he asks: “I’ve got a pop quiz for parents and teachers across the country. If our kids had more free time at school, what would you want them to do with it?
A. Learn to play a musical instrument. B. Study a new language C. Learn how to code HTML D. Take more standardized tests
If you’re like most of the parents and teachers I hear from, you didn’t choose 'D.' I wouldn’t either... In moderation, smart strategic tests can help us measure our kids’ progress in school. But I also hear from parents who rightly worry about too much testing. And I’ve heard from teachers who feel so much pressure to teach to a test that it takes the joy out of teaching and learning. Both for them and for the students.” A group of 68 of the largest urban public school systems in the U.S. calls itself the Council of Great City Schools. It released a new study in October that looked at school testing in 66 urban school districts.
The study found that Grade 8 students in the 2014-2015 school year spent an average of 4.2 days, or 2.3 percent of school time, taking tests. Grade 8 had the most testing time of any grade.
The report said that schools gave too many tests in the same subject. Students had to show how much they had learned again and again.
Often, schools did not receive test results until months later. When test results arrived, schools could not make timely changes to the curriculum to improve learning. Also, the report found that the majority of tests did not align with educational standards. The tests gathered information about how the students were doing. But it was unclear that the tests measured if students had the skills to succeed in college or a career.
The result, the report says, is an illogical system of national testing. The system does not seem to be well planned.
