Standardized Testing Argumentative Essay

Standardized tests do not improve student skills. There is a plethora of other things that influence student skills. Studies show that it may not be the teacher, but the quality of the students, and the quality of the school (Baker). This shows that student test scores are influenced by by outside forces such as family and the community that they live in. These are factors that, for the most part, are things that a student cannot control. Some states are implementing plans that would have 50% of the weight in teacher evaluations put into testing (Baker). How can schools expect students to improve if they put this much stress on the teachers. This could cause teachers to teach for the test and nothing else. There seems to be a better way to

Since standardized test were implemented, they have had adverse affects on the American education system. Kyung-Hee Kim says that the reason that test scores have been dropping is because standardized tests cause students to become underachievers (“Background of the Issue”). Tests have forced children to become inward thinkers. Exams have pushed them to “take the easy way out” while testing. These tests do not help students to grow in school or in other aspects of life (Harris). Assessments do not show growth in other important skills. They only test for skills in math and reading and select other subjects. Standardized tests have impossible standards and does not work as well as once thought. Former secretary of education Arne Duncan, told Congress that 82% of schools could not meet the standards of NCLB by 2014(“Background of the Issue”). Standardized tests set nearly impossible standards for schools to meet. If 82% of schools did not meet this it could have caused teachers to lose jobs and schools to lose federal funding. A study in 2001 found that 50% to 80% of test scores from standardized testing is temporary (“Background of the