Do We Really Need Those Reports?

Parents say they don’t need state test results…and I concur.

Many U.S. schools will be switching over to annual tests that reflect the new Common Core standards. Washington Post educational columnist Jay Matthews suggest that instead of sending out scores the first year, we take a a year off from reporting schools and his article received a lot of warm praise from readers. Matthews suggest that “Schools can give the new tests but use the results only for improving teaching methods, not for assessing students and teachers,”. 

While U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan disagrees with the idea of pushing back score reports for a year, I think it's a great idea. Implementing new teaching standards comes with a lot of risks. There's a lot of room for misinterpretation as teachers begin to unravel and understand the sometimes-vague new standards. Students may also be unfamiliar with possible new test formats. And as with any new test, there will undoubtedly be some problems with the first batch of test. 

Delaying using the test reports for evaluation purposes would allow for students, teachers and test administrators to breathe easily through the first year that the Common Core standards are implemented. There is a heavy focus on standardized testing that could probably use a break. As one Loudon county parent and substitute teacher succinctly put it, "It seems that we are testing for the sake of testing and that the results are not showing what kids know". 

~Andre Sanabia