Standardized testing is used to determine student placement and eligibility for federal funding, but it may inaccurately measure students and disadvantage some groups. It causes stress in students and teaches memorization over learning. While tying teacher pay to scores could increase effort, it could also encourage cheating or narrow teaching to just test content, doing a disservice to students.

1. Standardized Testing Shannon Lunburg

2. Accuracy Testing is used to determine placement

3. Studies have shown testing may be inaccurate measure of intelligence

4. Tests may be gender and race biasedNo Child Left Behind Standardized testing gains new importance

5. Increased number of tests under this act

6. Yearly improvements or loss of federal funds

7. Increase in teaching to the testsEffect on students Some students become so stressed they become ill

8. Memorization instead of learning

9. Under-privileged children most adversely affectedAllegations of cheating Cheating may be occurring all over the country

10. Schools don’t want to lose their federal funding so cheating has become more widespread

11. Some districts receive bonuses if they hit certain scores

12. Disservice to the studentsTeachers salaries based on scores Could lead to even more cheating

13. Students only taught test information

14. Can be potentially beneficial if teachers put forth a greater effortConclusion Some students worry to the point of becoming ill

15. Some teachers will work harder if their pay is partially based on scores

16. Other teachers may do a disservice to their students and teach to the test

17. Further spike in cheating allegations