Many American Students Decide to not Take Standardized Tests
2021-05-31
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1Standardized tests are tests that aim to measure a student's progress in a subject.
2The tests are returning to America's schools this spring after the year-long pandemic.
3But millions of students will face shorter exams that carry less importance.
4And most families are being given the choice to not do testing at all.
5With new guidelines from the Biden administration, states are using different testing plans.
6These plans aim to reduce the stress of tests while still getting some data on student learning.
7However, large numbers of students will go untested, meaning it will be unclear how much learning has been set back by the pandemic.
8Robin Lake is director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education at the University of Washington.
9"We will end up with a highly imperfect set of data," Lake said.
10Lake added that the U.S. will have to follow and learn about the issue "for at least the next few years, and maybe the next decade."
11The current debate is the latest in a series of battles over school testing among American parents and education leaders.
12As in the past, parents are divided.
13Some are demanding tests to get an idea of their children's progress.
14Others see no need to put their children through the stress of a test.
15As a teacher, Jay Wamsted believes there is value in testing.
16But when his sixth-grade daughter Kira asked to not be tested this year, he saw no reason to object.
17He already knows she needs to catch up on math after months of online learning.
18And as a teacher at her school, he knew that many other students were not taking the tests either.
19"I know she's a little behind, and I don't need that data," said Wamsted.
20Parent Abby Norman found her third-grade daughter crying in her bedroom the morning tests were set to begin at her school near Atlanta, Georgia.
21Priscilla, 9, had just returned to the classroom after learning from home.
22She was worried that she was not prepared. But she did well on the test.
23"She was so nervous about this test that I don't care about at all, that does not matter to me," said Norman.
24Those who oppose testing say it is the last thing students need after such a difficult year.
25Schools have other ways to study students' progress, they say, and testing only takes away from classroom time.
26Testing supporters say that there is still value in collecting as much data as possible.
27Lake, at the University of Washington, said even imperfect results can be used to help students recover.
28In normal years, the federally required tests are used to study a school's performance and its student's progress.
29In some states, students must pass certain tests to move to the next grade or graduate from high school.
30But this year, most states are measuring student growth and not making schools and students responsible for the results.
31After last year's tests were canceled, there was hope that this year's exams would give information about the pandemic's effect on education.
32But different testing between states now makes a comparative study impossible, said Scott Marion, the executive director of the nonprofit Center for Assessment.
33The group helps states design and evaluate tests.
34Still, he believes the results will have value.
35As schools begin the long process to help students recover, he said, this year's data will provide a starting point to measure against.
36I'm John Russell.
1Standardized tests are tests that aim to measure a student's progress in a subject. The tests are returning to America's schools this spring after the year-long pandemic. 2But millions of students will face shorter exams that carry less importance. And most families are being given the choice to not do testing at all. 3New guidelines 4With new guidelines from the Biden administration, states are using different testing plans. These plans aim to reduce the stress of tests while still getting some data on student learning. 5However, large numbers of students will go untested, meaning it will be unclear how much learning has been set back by the pandemic. 6Robin Lake is director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education at the University of Washington. 7"We will end up with a highly imperfect set of data," Lake said. 8Lake added that the U.S. will have to follow and learn about the issue "for at least the next few years, and maybe the next decade." 9The current debate is the latest in a series of battles over school testing among American parents and education leaders. 10As in the past, parents are divided. Some are demanding tests to get an idea of their children's progress. Others see no need to put their children through the stress of a test. 11As a teacher, Jay Wamsted believes there is value in testing. But when his sixth-grade daughter Kira asked to not be tested this year, he saw no reason to object. He already knows she needs to catch up on math after months of online learning. And as a teacher at her school, he knew that many other students were not taking the tests either. 12"I know she's a little behind, and I don't need that data," said Wamsted. 13Parent Abby Norman found her third-grade daughter crying in her bedroom the morning tests were set to begin at her school near Atlanta, Georgia. Priscilla, 9, had just returned to the classroom after learning from home. She was worried that she was not prepared. But she did well on the test. 14"She was so nervous about this test that I don't care about at all, that does not matter to me," said Norman. 15Critics and supporters 16Those who oppose testing say it is the last thing students need after such a difficult year. Schools have other ways to study students' progress, they say, and testing only takes away from classroom time. 17Testing supporters say that there is still value in collecting as much data as possible. Lake, at the University of Washington, said even imperfect results can be used to help students recover. 18In normal years, the federally required tests are used to study a school's performance and its student's progress. In some states, students must pass certain tests to move to the next grade or graduate from high school. But this year, most states are measuring student growth and not making schools and students responsible for the results. 19After last year's tests were canceled, there was hope that this year's exams would give information about the pandemic's effect on education. But different testing between states now makes a comparative study impossible, said Scott Marion, the executive director of the nonprofit Center for Assessment. The group helps states design and evaluate tests. 20Still, he believes the results will have value. As schools begin the long process to help students recover, he said, this year's data will provide a starting point to measure against. 21I'm John Russell. 22Collin Binkley reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 23_____________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25stress - n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc 26decade -- n. a period of 10 years 27grade -- n. the students in the same year of study at a school 28graduate -- v. to earn a degree or diploma from a school, college, or university 29evaluate - v. to judge the value or condition of (someone or something) in a careful and thoughtful way