Educational Standards Movement

Educational Standards Movement

"Various types of assessments- formative classroom assessment, classroom tests, state and local tests, college entrance and placement practices tests for teacher certification- all interact with other elements in the education system, sometimes in unanticipated ways" (Chapter 6 Assessment and Accountability: What Kinds of Assessment Are Used and for What Purposes? ). Assessments are a big deal when it comes to education. You take them to pass the state tests. You take them to pass your general studies. You take them to get certified to be a teacher. You take them to get into college. You take tests everywhere and you can't get away from them.

Assessments are a critical component of the education system. It is used by teachers to assign grades to individual students. In the 70s reading and computational literacy became a concern so states began making competency programs as a requirement to graduate. They began to use assessments as a way to improve. I think that it's a good thing to use assessments as a way to improve education. It shows what the students understand and what they need help with. Teachers have to change the way they teach because of standards. Standards are making it harder for teachers to teach because of what is needed for the child to pass to the next grade. They are pressured to quickly teach what is needed because of the time frame that they have.

Collaboration among teachers is key to teach to the standards. Teacher responsibilities have changed due to changing standards. Teachers have to work with other teachers to find out if what they are doing is best for the students, and to get other ideas on what works. It also helps for teachers to all stay on the same page when it comes to the needs of the students. If the teachers can some how put what they are learning in the other classes into their lectures then it is easier for the students to learn and remember information.

By the 2000s, 49 states established standards in math, 46 states established standards in science. There are more statewide assessments in math then there are in science but that is increasing (Elementary and Secondary Education). Math and Science are two of the main subjects in school. I think these areas should be tested upon but I don't think that should be so much pressure to pass these tests. There is other information besides what is on these tests that need to be learned. Lost sense of school of ownership, with introduction of standards and NCLB (Myers, 2007). Having some of the standards that teachers have to implement means teachers have less to say so on how they teach. The No Child Left Behind Act lets the child pass even if they are not ready for the next grade. As long as they pass the state tests then I feel that they are pushed along. There is much more to learn then what is on these tests.

Standards have changed the way teachers can teach the entire class and certain subjects. Teachers also instruct students with learning disabilities. This can be a challenge when they do not have the right equipment or supplies (Holbein, 1998). Teachers have undergone budget cuts. With the onset of budget cuts children with disabilities are mainstream into regular classes. If a teacher does not have background knowledge to teach special education it is harder for them to help these students. I think it's a good idea to include special needs children in the regular classroom. I don't think they should be secluded from the rest of their peers just because they have a disability. Standards make teachers teach the core subjects. It leaves out time for the fun way they can teach by using art, music, and sometimes gym. Because of