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ProposalPaperFinal
byNinaTorio

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NinaTorio
Yuasa
Expos2
March15,2016
StandardizedTesting
SectionOne:Background
Itsthattimeoftheyearagain.Pencilsharpening,calculatorpunching,andanswer
bubblinggalore.Thisisprobablythemoststressful,yetpivotalmomentinayoungstudentslife.
Studentsdependonthesefiveorsohourstomakeorbreaktheirfutureeducationandcareer
plans.Inthistimeperiod,highschoolstudentstakebothACTandSATtestsontopofotherstate
standardizedtestsrequiredbytheBoardofEducation.Asacrucialpartofthecollegeapplication
process,standardizedtestingandtestscoreshavegreatimportancewhenitcomestoastudents
future.Atthesametime,standardizedtestshavecontinuedtopileupforhighschoolstudents,
andsometimesthatcangetabitoverwhelming.Withthatsaid,studentsshouldtakefewertests
becausethereisanexcessiveandunnecessaryamountofstandardizedteststhatstudentsmust
take.Moreover,theresultsfromthesetests,otherwiseknownastestscores,shouldbeusedto
trackstudentprogress,nottolabelorestimateastudentsintelligenceorsuccess.
Togainabetterunderstandingaboutstandardizedtesting,itisnecessarytotakeastep
backandlookathowitcametobe.Theconceptofstandardizedtestingbeganin1845whena
mannamedHoraceMannbelievedthatschoolchildrenshouldusewrittenteststoenrichand
supplementstudenteducation(Gershon2015).Apioneerforstandardizedtesting,hecreated
differentformsanddesignsofstandardizedtests,eachservingacertainpurposefortesting.In

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turn,thisalsoreflectedwhatkindofcontentwouldbefoundinthetest.Someoftheveryfirst
formsofstandardizedtestswerecreatedtomeasureastudentsabilitytothinkandperforma
certainway(Gershon2015).Thesetestseventuallygrewverypopularandmorestartedtobe
used.LiviaGershon,freelancereporterandwriterforthe
JSTORDaily
states,TheArmyAlpha
andBetaTests,developedduringWorldWarItosortsoldiersbytheirmentalabilities,becamea
modelforschools(2015).Asaprominentlyestablishedmodel,itservedasawaytodistinguish
betweenanacademicallyprosperousorunsuccessfulstudent(2015).Moreimportantly,the
effectofstandardizedtestingondifferentethnicgroupsthathadverylowrespectforbecamea
risingconcernandprogressivelygrewintoaparticularlycontroversialissue.Socialinequality
becamearisingconcernwhilethecredibilityandfairnessofstandardizedtestingwasquestioned
atthesametime.Indeed,theconnectionbetweensocialclassstructureandstandardizedtesting
madeitclearthatprivilegedAmericanchildrenscorethebestwouldbethemostaccurate
conclusiontothedilemma.Nottomention,thecontinuingstereotypeorassumptionthatmany
peoplearequicktoexpressandrecognizewhendiscussingthetopicofstandardizedtestingis
affectingmanycommunitiesofstudents,teachers,andgovernmentalfigures.
Inadditiontothis,standardizedtestinghasbeenaproblemformanyreasons.Firstofall,
andprobablythemostimportantaspectoftheissue,isthebiasednatureofthetestsandthe
conflictbetweencertainethnicbackgroundswiththemoresuperiorones.Furthermore,there
aremanyspecificrequirementsorbenchmarksthatstudentsmustmeettobeatleastproficientin
thegivencontenttheyarebeingtestedon.Concerningthis,peoplehavecomplainedthatthere
arewaytoomanythingstocoverinonesinglestandardizedtestatatime.Withthatsaid,the

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creatorsofthesetestsfeeltheneedtoextendthetest,whichalsomeansthatthetestingprocessis
alsoextended.
Anotherissuethatcametominddealswiththetestscoresthatstudentsreceiveinresult
ofcompletingthetesttothebestoftheirability.Acceptancetomanycollegesarebasedona
specifictestscorethatmustbeachieved.Thismightnotbeveryfairtothosewhoaresmart,yet
theyhavedifficultieswithtesttaking.Bygatheringthesespecificissuesregardingstandardized
testing,itcanbesaidthatthesehavebeenaroundsincethetimethefirsttestwascreated.As
standardizedtestingbecamemorestructuredandorganized,manypeoplecontinuetohavethings
tosayaboutit,includingbothnegativeandpositivecriticism.
Yearafteryear,changeshavebeenimplementedtothetestaswellasincidentsassociated
withthesubjectpopuphereandthere.Asamatteroffact,onMarch5,2016,CollegeBoard
distributedanddebutedthenewandimprovedSAT.AccordingtoStephenWall,staffwriterfor
TheOrangeCountyRegister
states,ThenewversionoftheSATaimstomeasurewhatstudents
learninschoolratherthanarcanevocabularywordssuchaslachrymose.Trickquestionsthat
somecomparedtobrainteasershavebeenpurged(6).Thisshowsthatstudentswillbetesting
onthingsthatreallycount.Insteadoftimebeingwasted,studentscancountonthetestbeing
worththeirtimetaking.Ithasbeensaidthatstudentsfavorthisversionovertheolderformofthe
SATcollegeentranceexam,andthatistheultimategoalregardingstandardizedtesting.
Evenmore,whenlookingatthebiggerpictureandfocusingonwhothisissueultimately
affects,italwayscomesbacktothehardworkingstudentswhohopetosucceedandthrivein
theiracademics.Everydaystudentslikemeandmyotherfellowclassmatesareallprime
examplesofindividualswhohavebeentrappedinsuchasystemwherestandardizedtestshave

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somuchweightandimportanceinourlives.Whiletheintentionsofthesekindsoftestsare
good,itcouldbeniceifwecantaketestsinamorefairandsufficientmanner.
Section2:CurrentSituation
Thecurrentstateoftheproblemofstandardizedtestinghasbeen,forthemostpart,very
slow.Itseemsasiftheproblemhasbeeneasilylookedover,waitingforthedaysomeone
decidestolookattheproblemandimplementasecureplantofixit.Sofar,abillhasbeeninthe
processofbeingdraftedtogetridofthemanyrequirementsattachedtostandardizedtesting.
Americanwriterandleadeducationbloggerat
NPR
,AnyaKamentzreportsthat,
Annualtests
foreverychildinreadingandmathingrades3through8,plusoneinhighschool,havebeena
centerpieceoffederaleducationlawsince2002.NoChildLeftBehind,thecurrentincarnationof
theElementaryandSecondaryEducationAct,requiresthem(3).Itisshownthatthe
governmentistakingactiononthisissueandhasmadetheefforttochangestandardizedtesting.
However,theseeffortshavenotcompletelyprovedtoeffectivelybringanendtotheproblem.
Inaddition,outsidefromthegovernmentsetting,otherpeoplehaveexpressedandshared
theirideasforsolutions,althoughtheyhavenotbeenimplementedyet.Forinstance,ithasbeen
suggestedthatwereplaceannualtests(Kamenetz8).Ontheotherhand,otherstateshavetaken
otherroutesinordertogetaroundtheproblemorcomeclosetoresolvingit.Onesolutionthat
wealreadyimplementhereinHawaiihastodowithPerformanceorPortfolioBased
Assessments.AccordingtoKamen
etz,Schoolsaroundthecountryareincorporatingdirect
demonstrationsofstudentlearningintotheirassessmentprograms.Theseincludeprojects,
individualandgrouppresentations,reportsandpapersandportfoliosofworkcollectedover
time.TheNewYork
PerformanceStandardsConsortium
consistsof28schools,grades612,

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throughoutNewYorkStatethatrelyontheseteachercreatedassessmentstotheexclusionof
standardizedtests.Thesepublicschoolstendtoshowhighergraduationratesandbetter
collegeretentionrates,whileservingapopulationsimilartothatofotherurbanschools(25).
Backinmiddleschoolandinacoupleofmyhighschoolclasses,Iwastoldtocreate
thesekindsofportfoliosthatconsistedofmypastworkthatIhadsavedinordertoanalyzemy
performanceineachofmyclasses.Tomysurprise,itwasactuallyagoodlearningexperience
beingabletoassessmyperformanceandthequalityofmywork.Anothersolutiontothe
probleminvolvesSocialandEmotionalSkillsSurveys.Theauthorstates,Researchshows
thatatleasthalfoflongtermchancesofsuccessaredeterminedbynonacademicqualitieslike
grit,perseveranceandcuriosity.AsstatesexpandaccesstopreK,theyare
includingsocialand
emotionalmeasures
intheirdefinitionsofhighqualitypreschool.Asonecomponentofa
multiplemeasuressystem,allschoolscouldbeheldaccountableforcultivatingthishalfofthe
pictureTheMontgomeryCountyPublicSchoolsinMarylandsurveybothstudentsand
teachersonsocialandemotionalfactorsandusetheresultstoguideinternaldecisionmaking.
Thedistrictusesthe
Gallupstudentpoll,
a20questionsurveythatseekstomeasurelevelsof
hope,engagementandwellbeing(2122).Bydoingthis,stateslikeMarylandassesstheir
studentsinamannerthattheyfeelismorefairandlifeapplicable.Giventhatlongtermsuccess
canbedeterminedbyanalyzinganindividualscharacteristics,thisprovidesapathwaytostep
awayfromtheoveruseofstandardizedtestingandtodosomethingmoredifferent,yetstill
accurate.

Section3:YourProposedSolution

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Asstatedbefore,studentsshouldtakefewertestsbecausethereisanoverwhelmingand
unnecessaryamountofstandardizedteststhatstudentshavetotake.Moreover,thetestscores
andotherresultsfromthesetestsshouldbeusedtotrackstudentprogress,nottolabelastudents
intelligenceorsuccess.Withthatsaid,myfirstsolutionwouldbetorecreatetestsbyediting
downthecontentfoundintheteststowhatisextremelynecessaryforastudenttohave
knowledgeaboutalready,especiallymovingontothecollegelevel.LyndseyLayton,reporter
forthe
TheWashingtonPost
remindsusthat,
fewerassessmentsofhigherqualityare
better...Whatwehavenowacrossthecountryisconfusing,hardtonavigateand,Ibelieve,
abusiveofbothteacherandstudenttime(14).Thissolutionwillworkbetterwhencomparedto
anothersolutionbecausethisistendingtotheproblemheadon,notworkingaroundit.Indoing
so,Iwouldliketoseemorestudentstakestandardizedtest,andatthesametime,wantthemto
feelthatthetesttheyaretakingisimportantinsteadofbeingawasteoftime.Frommysurvey,
60%believethatstandardizedtestsarenotnecessary.However,aftertweakingthetestand
reducingthecontent,Iwanttoseemorepeopleconsiderstandardizedtestingasaverynecessary
testinworkingtowardsfewer,yethigherqualitytestswhichwillthenbeameasuringagent
showingwhetherornotthissolutionwassuccessfulornot.
Furthermore,cuttingdownthetestingtimeofatypicalstandardizedtestwouldalsobea
greatsolution.Currently,studentstestforoverfourtofivehours.Themajorityofthetime,this
getsverytiringandstudentsmaynotperformaswellastheywouldhavelikedto.Iaskedmy
fellowclassmatesexactlyhowlongtestsliketheseshouldlastfor.Themajorityofthemsaidone
totwohoursmax,andthatisfairlyreasonable.Inessence,highschoolstudentsarepleadingfor
shortertestinghoursbecausethelonghoursinaclassroomisnotnecessary.Additionally,Kerr

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andLederman,writersfrom
TheHuffingtonPost
claimtha
t,ATestingActionPlanreleased
bytheEducationDepartmentovertheweekendsaidtoomanyschoolshaveunnecessary
testingThedepartmentpledgedtoworkwithstatesandschoolsonwaystoreducetimespent
ontesting,withfederalguidancetothestatesexpectedinJanuary(1112).Thisstatementby
KerrandLedermanvalidatethissolutionbecauseotherpeoplehavealsocaughttheproblemas
well.Thissolutionwouldprovetobesuccessfulbecauseofthealreadycirculatingactionsbeing
donetoimprovethisissue.Atthesametime,Iwouldexpectcosts,atmost,togotowardsthe
alterationofthesestandardizedtest,whichwouldrequirepayingspecializedindividualstocreate
thenewformofthetest.Altogether,costswouldbeverymanageableandlowmaintenance.
Evenmore,whenanalyzingtestscores,thefocusshouldbeonhowmuchastudenthad
improvedaftertakingeachtest,insteadofstayingfixatedonastudentscurrentscore,which
wouldbeaverylogicalandsensiblesolution.Focusingonhowmuchanindividualimprovedon
specificareasofthetestinsteadofthetestasawholemayserveasabetterwaytoutilize
standardizedtesting.WritersoftheGreatSchoolStaffacknowledgethat,Testscoresgiveyou
anindicationofhowstudentsareperformingataparticularschool.Buttheydonttellthewhole
story.ThetestscoresyouseeonGreatSchools.org,asreportedbythestateDepartmentof
Education,comparegroupsofstudentsfromoneyeartothenextbuttheydonttellyouabout
individualstudentprogress.Theydonttellyouabouttherichnessofthecurriculum(1).The
essenceofGreatSchoolsargumentisthattestsscoresdonotaccuratelydefineyoursuccess
becausetheycanonlytellyousomuchaboutapersonoraboutaspecificschool.Itsroleisto
giveyouanideaofwhereyoustandacademically,butitdoesntsufficealone.

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Additionally,manyofmyclassmateshadsomefeedbackaboutwhetherornottestscores
canaccuratelydefineyoursuccessinthefuture.Ireceivedagoodrangeofresponses,butthe
responsethatstoodoutthemosttomesaidthattestscoresdontreallyhavethecapabilityof
definingyoursuccess.Oneofmyclassmatessuggestedthateverystudenthasdifferentstrengths
indifferentsubjects,andsincethetestcanbetakenmultipletimesitmaybeaccurate.However,
themainpointisthattestscoresshouldbeusedinamoreflexiblewaysothatstudentscanbe
proudoftheirimprovementandpotentialforthefuture,whichcanbemeasuredbyanincreasein
thenumberofsatisfiedtesttakers.
Ontheotherhand,onemightsaythatstandardizedtestsarecompletelybiasedandunfair.
Sometimesyoumightfindyourselfstrugglingtoanswercertainsectionsorquestionsbecause
youdonotknowalotofcontentonthetest.Interestingly,aclassmatethatcompletedmysurvey
statedthattheyfeltthatstandardizedtestswereunfairbecausetheyhadheardaboutscoresbeing
riggedbasedonethnicity.NoliweM.RooksofTimeMagazinewrites,Andifthestandardized
testinggapbetweenracialminoritiesisbad,itsnothingcomparedtothegapbetweenthepoor
andthewealthy.Forexample,onerecent
study
bytheAnnieE.CaseyFoundationfoundthatthe
gapforachievementtestscoresbetweenrichandpoorhavegrownbyalmost60%sincethe
1960sandarenowalmosttwiceaslargeasthegapbetweenwhitestudentsandchildrenofother
races.Theplayingfieldisfarfromlevelwhenwecontinuetousetestswhereweknowatthe
outsetthatwealthystudentswilldobetterthanlesswealthystudentsandwhiteandAsian
studentswilloutperformblacksandLatino(4).Thoughthismaybetrue,studentsshouldnot
usethisasanexcusetolimitthemselves.Whilethebattleandconflictbetweenethnicitiesmay
nevergoaway,peopleshouldstrivetohaveamoreopenandunderstandingmindtowardsthis

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issue.Youmaynotbethebestofthebest,butyoucanworkhardtogetyourselftothatpoint.
Dwellingonthefactthatyourethnicityisnotsuperioroverallotherswilljustsetyoubackeven
morefromthethingsyoucanachieveduringthistimeperiod.
Section4:AddressPossibleObjections
Knowingthatnoteveryonewillnotagreewithmyproposal,Iunderstandthateach
personhasdifferentperspectivesoncertainideas.Withthatsaid,Ifeelthatthegroupofpeople
whomightobjecttomyproposalwouldbetheverycreatorsofstandardizedtests,suchasthe
wellknownCollegeBoard.IfeelthatCollegeBoardwouldobjectmyproposalbecause
standardizedtestingisaveryofficialandseriousmatter.Editingandminimizingthelengthas
wellasthetimespentontheseteststocertainstandardsthatstudentsandothertesttakerswant
mightmakethemfeelliketheyhavelosttheircontrolandpowerinthisprocess.
Likewise,Ialsofeelthatparentswillalsofightbackontheissue.JoseVilson,math
teacher,writer,andactivistinaNewYorkpublicschoolarguesthatparentsshouldopttheir
childrenoutofstandardizedtesting(2014).Turningawayfromthefullnessandpressureof
standardizedtesting,Vilsonbelievesthatstudentsuccesscanbebetterevaluatedwhenallowing
studentstotakeonmorehandsonlearningexperiences(2014)insteadofwastingtheirtimeon
tedioustestslikethese.TheideasexpressedinthearticlearepersuasiveenoughasVilsonisable
torelatetomanyparents,students,andteachersabouttheissue,addingvaliditytohisarguments.
Inadditiontothis,evidenceshowsthatparentshaveactedagainststandardizedtestingbypulling
theirchildrenout(Bellafante2014).GiniaBellafante,writerforTheNewYorkTimes,states
thatcloseto270studentsintheNewYorkCitypublicschoolsystemhasdonethis(2014).This
wasnecessaryforparentstodo,thoughitmayseemlikeitwasdownoutofdisrespecttowards

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allschoolingsystems.However,LisaGuisbond,
anassessmentreformanalystfortheNational
CenterforFairandOpenTesting(
FairTest
)inCambridge,Massachusetts,clarifiesandjustifies
thatstandardizedtestingisbothunfairandmisused,showingthattheressimplynoneedforit
unlessbetterassessmentscanbeimplementedintoallschoolingsystems(2014).
Tothosewhomayfeelskepticalaboutmyproposal,Iwantthemtoremembertohavean
openmindandtothinkofhowitmayfeeltobeinastudentsshoes.Theobstaclesand
preparationastudentmustgothroughtogettothatdeskontestingdaymaynotbeapplicable
andrelatableineverybodyslife,butthinkaboutwhateveryoneideallystrivestoachieveintheir
life.Mostwouldsaysuccess,happiness,money,family,etc.Also,thinkaboutthehardshipsand
journeysonemustgothroughtolearnthecontentandshowcasewhattheyknowonthese
standardizedtest.Justimaginehowsweetsuccessandvictorywilltasteintheendwhenone
scorewellandimproveseachtime.Despiteobjections,myproposalshouldbeattemptedbecause
itisthenextsteptosolvingtheproblemofstandardizedtestingandwillguidethenext
generationoftesttakerstonewfoundsuccess.

Section5:CalltoAction
Implementingthesesmallchangestostandardizedtestingisveryimportantifwewantto
makeamoreefficientandfairmethodofassessment.Whilemostofusdontwanttotakeatest
feelingthatitisacompletewasteofourtime,thatmakesadjustmentsliketheseevenmore
necessary.Althoughstandardizedtestingmayseemofconcerntoonlyasmallgroupofhigh
schoolstudents,itshouldinfactconcernanyonewhocaresabouttheirfutureandthegenerations
afterthem.Ifwetakeaction,wewillberewardedwithmoreefficientstandardizedtestsaswella

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bettersystemoranalyzationmethodtoassesstestscoresandtheweightthatithas.TEDTalk
speaker,TedDintersmith,expressed,Weshouldstrivetohaveschoolsthatarefullof
possibilityandhope,insteadofplacementandpercentile(2015).Dintersmithcouldnothave
beenanymorerightaboutthis.Ifwecanfindtherightbalancebetweeneducationandpersonal
success,wecanproducebetterstudentsthatarereadytotakeontheworld.
Toclose,sincethebeginningsoftheearliestknownformofstandardizedtestinguntil
now,thingshavedefinitelychanged.However,theblueprintandpurposeofstandardized
testinghas,forthemostpart,stayedthesame.Sometimes,weforgetabouttheimportanceof
standardizedtestingbecausesomeofusjustgothroughthemotions.However,weshouldalways
rememberthattakingthesetestsissuchaprivilegeandweshouldnevertakethatforgranted.
Mostofustakethetestandstumbleoverafewormorequestionsthatwejustcouldntfigureout
intheallowedtime.Whilesomewouldjustletthissurpasstheirminds,otherswouldbebothered
bythequestionsthattheydidnotknowhowtoanswer.Curiosityandthedrivetosoakupas
muchknowledgeastheycanshouldbethemindsetthateveryonestrivesfor,nomatterthe
circumstances.

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WorksCited
Bellafante,Ginia."StandingUptoTesting."
TheNewYorkTimesTheOpinionPagesRoomFor
Debate
.TheNewYorkTimesCompany,29Mar.2014.Web.8Mar.2016.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/30/nyregion/standinguptotesting.html?_r=0>.
Gershon,Livia."AShortHistoryofStandardizedTests."
JSTORDaily
.N.p.,12May2015.
Web.3Mar.2016.
GreatSchoolsStaff."StateStandardizedTestScores:IssuestoConsider."
GreatKids
.N.p.,n.d.
Web.2Mar.2016.
Guisbond,Lisa."SayEnoughIsEnoughWithStudentTesting."
TheNewYorkTimesThe
OpinionPagesRoomForDebate
.TheNewYorkTimesCompany,31Mar.2014.Web.
8Mar.2016.
<http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/03/31/shouldparentsoptoutofschoolt
esting/sayenoughisenoughonstudenttesting>.
Kamentz,Anya."WhatSchoolsCouldUseInsteadOfStandardizedTests."
NPR
.NPR,n.d.
Web.03Mar.2016.
Kerr,JenniferC,andJoshLederman."ThisIsHowMuchTimeStudentsActuallySpendTaking
StandardizedTests."
TheHuffingtonPost
.N.p.,26Oct.2015.Web.3Mar.2016.

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Layton,Lyndsey."StudySaysStandardizedTestingIsOverwhelmingNation'sPublicSchools."
WashingtonPost
.TheWashingtonPost,n.d.Web.03Mar.2016.
PrepareOurKidsforLife,NotStandardizedTestsTedDintersmithTEDxFargo
.Perf.Ted
Dintersmith.
Youtube
.TEDTalks,25Aug.2015.Web.14Mar.2016.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvhb9aoyeZs>.
Rooks,NoliweM."WhyItsTimetoGetRidofStandardizedTests."
TIME
.N.p.,111Oct.
2012.Web.2Mar.2016.
Vilson,Jose."It'sEveryParent'sRight."
TheNewYorkTimesTheOpinionPagesRoomFor
Debate
.TheNewYorkTimesCompany,13May2014.Web.8Mar.2016.
<http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/03/31/shouldparentsoptoutofschoolt
esting/itseveryparentsright>.
Wall,Stephen."StudentsCramforNewSAT,WhichHasFewerQuestions,NoEssayandTop
Scoreof1,600Again."
TheOrangeCountyRegister
.N.p.,n.d.Web.03Mar.2016.

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AnnotatedBibliography
Bellafante,Ginia."StandingUptoTesting."
TheNewYorkTimesTheOpinionPagesRoomFor
Debate
.TheNewYorkTimesCompany,29Mar.2014.Web.8Mar.2016.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/30/nyregion/standinguptotesting.html?_r=0>.
ThisarticlewaswrittenbyGiniaBellafante,anAmericanwriter,fashioncritic,andcritic
fortheNewYorkTimes.Thearticlediscussedabouttheimportanceofcommunitiesto
standuptostandardizedtestingandtospeaktheirmindsabouttheissue.Theideaof
optingoutofthesetestswasalsoanimportantfocusofthisarticle.Moreover,
BellafanteshinedthelightonthestudentsofNewYorkCityandthenumberof
standardizedteststheyarerequiredtotakeannuallysothatwemaygainabetter
understandingabouttheissue.Asamatteroffact,itissaidthatover270students
decidedtooptoutofstandardizedtesting,andthiswasagreatpieceofevidencethatI
wasabletoincorporateinmypapertoshowthatparentsmayobjecttomyproposalsand
justcompletelykickstandardardizedtestingoutthedoorpersay.

Gershon,Livia."AShortHistoryofStandardizedTests."
JSTORDaily
.N.p.,12May2015.
Web.3Mar.2016.
ThisarticlewaswrittenbyLiviaGershonwhoisafreelancewriterbasedinNashua,New
Hampshire.Thisarticletalkedaboutthehistoryofstandardizedtestingandhowithas
developedintothetypeofstandardizedtestingwehavetoday.Inmypaper,Iused
informationaboutArmyandAlphaandBetaTestsusedduringWorldWarItoassess
soldiersinordertoprovideevidenceandsupportingdetailsaboutthebackgroundofthe
issue.

GreatSchoolsStaff."StateStandardizedTestScores:IssuestoConsider."
GreatKids
.N.p.,n.d.
Web.2Mar.2016.
ThisarticlewaswrittencollectivelybytheGreatSchoolsStaff.GreatSchoolsisa
nonprofitorganizationaimingtoeducateparentsonhowtoraisetheirchildreninaway
thattheymaygrowtoreachtheirfullpotential.Inthisarticle,theGreatSchoolsStaff
talkedabouthowstandardizedtestsdonttellthewholestory.Inotherwords,
standardizedtestingdoesnothavetheabilitytoassessalltheaspectsofastudentbecause
testingsolelyfocusesonwhetherornotastudentcanachieveacertainscoreornot.In

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mypaper,Iwasabletoincorporateintheideaofhowstandardizedtestsareso
onesidedandincapableofaccuratelyassessingastudent.

Guisbond,Lisa."SayEnoughIsEnoughWithStudentTesting."
TheNewYorkTimesThe
OpinionPagesRoomForDebate
.TheNewYorkTimesCompany,31Mar.2014.Web.
8Mar.2016.
<http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/03/31/shouldparentsoptoutofschoolt
esting/sayenoughisenoughonstudenttesting>.
ThisopinionpagewaswrittenbyLisaGuisbond,anassessmentreformanalystforthe
NationalCenterforFairandOpenTestingandexecutivedirectorofCitizensforPublic
Schools.Inheropinionbasedarticle,Guisbondtalksabouthowsheoptedhersonout
fromtheirlocalstandardizedtests.Shealsoexpresseshowthesetestaresimply
overkillandshouldbebetterassessedtoensurehigherqualitytesting.Additionally,
shereferredtothesetestsasonesizefitsalltestsandemphasizedhowimportantitis
forpeopletohavetheirvoiceheardinthecommunityiftheywanttoseeanychangein
theseassessments.Inmypaper,Iusedthisinformationtoconstructmysynthesis
paragraph,explaininghowstandardizedtestingshouldnotbeusedunlessitis
implementedproperly.

Kamentz,Anya."WhatSchoolsCouldUseInsteadOfStandardizedTests."
NPR
.NPR,n.d.
Web.03Mar.2016.
ThisarticlewaswrittenbyAnyaKamenetz,NationalPublicRadios(NPR)lead
educationblogger.Thisarticletalkedabouthowpeoplearetakingactioninhopesof
changingtherequirementsoreveneliminatingstandardizedtesting.Thearticlealso
discussesabillthatisintheprocessofbeingdraftedaswellastheNoChildLeft
BehindAct,whichrequiresstudentsgrades3to8totakeannualteststocheckupon
theirlearningandtoensureproficiencyineachsubject.Inmypaper,Iusedthe
alternativestostandardizedtestingthatKamenetzexpressedinordertoensureamore
soundandsufficienttestingmethodforstudents.

Kerr,JenniferC,andJoshLederman."ThisIsHowMuchTimeStudentsActuallySpendTaking
StandardizedTests."
TheHuffingtonPost
.N.p.,26Oct.2015.Web.3Mar.2016.
ThisarticlewaswrittenbyJenniferC.KerrandJoshLederman,writersforthe
HuffingtonPost.Thisarticletalkedabouttheamountoftimestudentstaketopreparefor

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standardizedtestaswellashowmanyhoursstudentsputinactuallytakingthetest.They
alsodiscussedhowtheobsessionwithtestingshouldbegreatlyreducedsothatstudents
donothavetowastetheirtimeonunnecessarytesting.Inmypaper,Iwasabletoutilize
theinformationKerrandLedermanpresentedaboutaTestingActionPlan,bythe
EducationDepartment,inordertocutdowntestingtotheminimum,yetsufficient
requirement.Thisevidenceshowedthatthingshavebeendonetotendtotheissueof
standardizedtesting.

Layton,Lyndsey."StudySaysStandardizedTestingIsOverwhelmingNation'sPublicSchools."
WashingtonPost
.TheWashingtonPost,n.d.Web.03Mar.2016.

ThisarticlewaswrittenbyLyndseyLayton,reporterforTheWashingtonPost.This
articlefocusedonhowfewerstandardizedtestsofhigherqualitywouldbemore
beneficialtobothstudentsandteachers.Shealsoemphasizesonthefactthatintesting
thecurrentwaythatwedo,itissimplyawasteofbothteacherandstudenttimebecause
thetestsarenotbeingtakenseriously.Thisisduetotheoverloadandexcessmaterialthat
studentsaresupposedtohavelearnedalready.Inmypaper,Iincludedkeyinformation
abouthowstandardizedtestscouldbemoreimpactfulandworthtakingifitwasofbetter
quality.ThefirsttimeIreadthisstatement,itimmediatelycaughtmyattention,andit
perfectlyworksasasupportingdetailinmypaper.

PrepareOurKidsforLife,NotStandardizedTestsTedDintersmithTEDxFargo
.Perf.Ted
Dintersmith.
Youtube
.TEDTalks,25Aug.2015.Web.14Mar.2016.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvhb9aoyeZs>.
ThisTEDTalkwaspresentedbyTedDintersmith,aleadingventurecapitalist.Inthis
presentation,Dintersmithtalkedabouthowstudentshavebeenmisleadbytheschooling
system.Whilethecurrenteducationalsystemmerelyfocusesonstudentsmeetingcertain
standardswhentesting,hesuggeststhatstudentsbetaughtimportantlifeskillsthatwould
meanmoretothemthanthingstheylearnintheirmathlesson.Hemadeitveryclearthat
hebelievesinthepotentialeachandeverystudenthastothriveinthisworld,andthatcan
onlyhappeniftheyarebetterpreparedwiththeseskills.Thewordsofwisdom
DintersmithsharedinthisTEDTalkinspiredmeasIwrotemypaperandhelpedme
furthermyideasandthoughtsabouttheappropriatewaytestscoresshouldbeutilized.

Rooks,NoliweM."WhyItsTimetoGetRidofStandardizedTests."
TIME
.N.p.,111Oct.
2012.Web.2Mar.2016.
ThisarticlewaswrittenbyNoliweM.Rooks,author,writerforTime,andassociate
professoratCornellUniversityinAfricanaStudiesandFeminist,GenderandSexuality

Torio18

Studies.Thisarticleinterpretedthemorepersonalsideofstandardizedtesting.Ittalks
abouthowraceandethnicityhascontributedtotheissueandhowpeoplerespondtothis
conflict.Evenmore,Rooksclarifiesthatthereisacorrelationbetweenrace,income,and
studentsuccess,whichbringsupthequestionaboutwhetherornotthistypeoftestingis
fairandreliable.Inmypaper,Iusedaquoteexplainingaboutagapthathasgrown
betweenthetestsscoresbetweenthepoorandwealthy.Theincreasedpercentage
betweenthesetwosocialclassesshowedthatstandardizedtestingfavorsonegroupof
peopleoveranother,andthatisnotfairtotheremaining.

Vilson,Jose."It'sEveryParent'sRight."
TheNewYorkTimesTheOpinionPagesRoomFor
Debate
.TheNewYorkTimesCompany,13May2014.Web.8Mar.2016.
<http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/03/31/shouldparentsoptoutofschoolt
esting/itseveryparentsright>.
ThisopinionpagewaswrittenbyJoseVilson,mathteacher,writer,andactivistinaNew
YorkCitypublicschool.Inhisopinionbasedarticle,heexpressesthatitiseveryparents
righttoopttheirchildrenoutfromstandardizedtesting.Healsostatesthatoptingout
fromtestingallowsstudentstobeassessedbymoreimportantthingsthattestscoreslike
theircharacter,whileamorehandsonlearningexperiencecanhavemoreprominencein
alleducationalsystems.Inmypaper,IwasabletouseVilsonsideasaboutaparents
optiontoopttheirchildrenoutfromtestingasacounterargumentorpossibleobjection.I
saythatbecause,thoughmyproposalaimstoalterthesetests,othersmaywantto
completelygetridofthem.

Wall,Stephen."StudentsCramforNewSAT,WhichHasFewerQuestions,NoEssayandTop
Scoreof1,600Again."
TheOrangeCountyRegister
.N.p.,n.d.Web.03Mar.2016.
ThisarticlewaswrittenbyStephenWall,staffwriterofTheOrangeCountyRegister.
ThisarticletalksaboutthenewandimprovedSATcollegeentranceexamthatappliedon
March5,2016.ItissaidthatthenewSATisabetterrenditionofthepastSATform
becauseitactuallytestsstudentsonthingsthataretaughtatschool.Furthermore,trick
questionswerealsoremoved,guessingisnolongerpenalized,andtesttakingtimewas
shortened.Thesechangescontributetothegoalofcreatingamorerealisticandmore
bearabletest.Inmypaper,Iusedthisinformationtoshowwhathascurrentlybeendown
toimprovestandardizedtestingtoday.Thiswasperfecttimingasimprovementshadbeen
doneveryrecently.

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