As some parents, students and teachers might know, standardized testing is a huge foundation of the US public education system. Academic assessments have been given since the dawn of education, but exams were made a Federal Mandate under the 'No Child Left Behind Act' in 2002. This act required states to test all of their students in each core subject and extra science assessments. States were able to collect large amounts of data, all which pointed to a gap in success from minority and poverty stricken children. The Act also would take the scores from each school and evaluate those school based on their test scores. If a school didn't meet federal government requirements, they would be punished. In 2011, President Obama had lessened some of the more harsher features of the act, but now the states use scores to assess teachers. Now if the scores don't meet the federal requirements, teachers are severely punished and can lose their jobs.
Of course, when people began to lose their jobs, and schools were losing federal grant money and students weren't gaining for the better; there was an uproar. Teachers and state districts are beginning to rebel against standardized testing. Already bills are being considered by Congress to lessen the burden of standardized testing.
Now the Public has to wait. Many politicians and senators won't make a move until Congress does. Once the 'No Child Left Behind Act' is rewritten, many states are committing to change. Though this change in the United States public education system may take some time to come into affect, it's a long awaited change for the better. The education of our future generation is everybody's problem. We cannot expect people to have a positive contribution to our society if they can't even name all the branches of our government. With this change, I hope that the academic standards for Americans will grow and we'll become world leaders in education.
School Standardized Testing is Under Growing Attack, Leaders Pledge Changes
