Testing Addiction

In an article in Ed Week on October 7, 2013 by Marc Tucker, Linda Darling-Hammond, John Jackson they made the following statement. “Americans are addicted to multiple-choice, computer-scored tests, mainly because they are cheap and easy to score.” These tests drive a narrow curriculum rather than a broad 21^st century skills-based curriculum. High scoring countries encourage these broader skills, test less frequently, and use classroom assessment more often.

In the U.S. the incentives to teach the testable skills carry high stakes. For teachers, the tests are high risk as their evaluations and thus their employment depends on them. Yet, there is no evidence around the globe that it is more testing that improves student achievement.

The best minds in education are advocating for balance. Why aren’t we listening to them?