The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing

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The critical No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law of 2002 incorporated the use of standardized testing in all 50 states. With this reform, the education in America has changed dramatically, but has standardized testing hurt the educational system? Does standardized testing measure and assess students literacy accurately? These and more questions have been the focus of many debates against and pro the standardized education. The former president George W. Bush regulate the educational system in 2001with the NCLB reform, with the purpose of creating standards that do not discriminate and promote an equal education that does not leave any child behind but give an objective opportunity of learning. The initial goals of the standard assessments were …show more content…

However, even though the standardized system is the main focus of education today in the United States, this reform has brought many concerns and arguments between the school staff, parents, and students. Despite the initial objectives of the NCLB act, there are many disputes whether this regulation is really objective and nondiscriminatory for the minorities that try not to exclude. In addition, many people argue that the standard curriculum that is used today has not improved education, but weaken the true meaning of learning and achieving literacy. For this reason, although the standardized testing system intends to enhance the education of the country, it is discriminatory and does not evaluate correctly the students nor the schools, therefore it should be eliminated and replaced by the education …show more content…

In addition, "Since World War I and the creation of the U.S. Army Alpha assessment test educators have been using standardized testing instruments to assess student performance in K–12 public schools" (Smyth 133). The NCLB reform ruled different laws and endorsements that must be applied to all public educational systems in the country to ensure the achievement of the initial goals of the law and consequently guarantee an improved education. The law of the standardized testing consist that all public schools from the 50 states must follow a standard curriculum and give a standardized testing in reading and math every year and at the same time ensure "Proficiency level" in these exams to avoid sanctions from the government such as closing the schools and decreasing the funding amount for the institution " (Klein). For this reason, schools are accountable for the student 's scores through High-stake tests. In addition, higher education institutions also use the scores from these exams as a prerequisite for admission, assuming that after a student successfully passes this exam is capable of taking college classes. With this ruling, it is clear to assume that the NCLB, "represents government authorities attempting to control education from a

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