High Stakes Testing Research Paper

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Introduction
Over the course of the past couple decades high-stakes testing has become a way to analyze student’s performance year after year. High-stakes testing is a way of testing that includes serious consequences for students, teachers, administrators, etc. (Jones, G., Jones, B., & Hargrove, T., 2003). A form of high-stakes testing that is most common is standardized tests issued by the government at state level based on each state’s standards. The ultimate goal of high-stakes testing is to educate students to be able to compete in a global market (Spring, J., 2000) and enter the labor force successfully. One of the greatest complications with this measurement discussed in this paper is the effectiveness of this goal and how it is measured. …show more content…

The impact I have seen is not a positive one and there is a sumptuous amount of supporting evidence that suggests these test do more harm than good. The affects of these tests stretch to every member of a community whether they realize it or not. These tests put pressure on students to do their best, make teachers teach to the test instead of what is best fitted for their individual students, affect local real estate based on the scores the surrounding schools receive, which in turn affects the opportunity of low-income families, are not accommodating to those with disabilities or ones that are not proficient in English (Spring, J., 2000). The list goes on and on about the wide range of influence these tests have, and not in a good way. This is why this subject is very serious to me for I believe these tests will eventually change school as we know it, eliminating any creative thinking or individuality in student’s work. This paper will discuss in-depth the affects of high-stakes testing on local communities versus what they are intended to be used …show more content…

This is due to categorization of failing schools based on low-test scores being taken over by state government officials. If deemed necessary the state can either close schools down or transform them into charter schools. Hursh (2008) sees this testing as a way of totally privatizing American schools being the result of educational crisis. Instead of students gaining an understanding of the world they are being trained to perform well on high-stakes tests. The teachers are not teaching anymore but are rather acting out a script given to them by someone who has never taught (Hursh,

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