Standardized Testing And Its Effect On Minority Students

A standardized test refers to any examination that is administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner. There are two major types of standardized test: aptitude test and achievement test (Popham 1999). The test that is most familiar to parents, educators and students is the standardized achievement test. Every year schools administer achievement test to students, the scores of these test are then used by the public and school board members to evaluate a schools effectiveness. Although previous generations of American student have had to sit through test, never have test been given so frequently or played such a prominent role in schooling as they do today (Kohn 2000). The large role standardized testing has taken in todays schooling has lead many to question whether or not it is effective in measuring educational quality. In fact many researcher have reason to believe it is in face ineffective due to a bias against minority students. In order to understand how a bias in s tandardized testing would impact minority students, we must educate ourselves on the amount of preparation the test requires, as well as how it is created. The issue of standardized testing being biased should matter to all people, not just those who are directly effected by it, because as a society it is our job to ensure that each child is given equal opportunity to succeed. Over the years studies have shown fairly significant differences between White and African-American Students onShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Standardized Testing On Minority Students1376 Words   |  6 Pagesevidence proving a bias in standardized testing towards minority students. In this paper I will argue in favor of those supporting the idea of a bias in standardized testing. A bias in standardized testing would not only effect the students it is biased against, but the public and other students as well. This is why it is important that we take the time to educate ourselves with the evidence provided. In order to make a decision as to whether or not standardized testing is indeed biased, we must educateRead MoreStandardized Testing Is Negatively Affecting The Quality Of Education Essay1467 Words   |  6 PagesStandardized Testing Takes Its Toll On Education According to Linn, â€Å"Americans have had a love-hate relationship with educational testing†, and the controversies on the use of standardized tests will probably continue long after the twenty-first century (29). How can people see the ‘love’ in this use of testing that has negative long-term effects on students? Why should the controversies live on beyond this modern century? Standardized testing is negatively affecting the quality of education givenRead MoreAmerican Schools: Should Be More Equitable for Students of Lower Classes and Minority Races1364 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican educational system are the barriers that students from both lower classes and minority races are facing. In K-12 schools, standardized testing seems to be the one issue that creates problems. In terms of enrolling into college, the financing is the most common reason that blocks lower classes and minority race students from colleges. In both K-12 and postsecondary schools, lack of mentoring and helpful faculty members has negative influences on students in terms of both academic achievements andRead MoreStandardized Testing Has Impacted Public Schools1348 Words   |  6 PagesStudents are overwhelmed with school, work, extra-curricular activities, family, etc. Perhaps standardized tests are a major contributor to students’ stress. A standardized test is any test scored in a consistent manner and requires test-takers to answer identical questions. Among the most common include the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT). According to the article â€Å"Standardized Testing Has Negatively Impacted Public Schools† from Opposing Viewpoints in ContextRead MoreEssay on Problems with Standardized Testing946 Words   |  4 PagesProblems with Standardized Testing â€Å"Where is the standardized test that can measure passion for learning, respect for others, and human empathy?† These are the words of Tom McKenna, a disgruntled high school teacher from Portland, Oregon. Like many other educators and students across the nation, Tom is tired of the system. The educational system today is composed of a series of standardized tests. Standardized tests are bad for many reasons. They cause teachers to limit their curriculum, putRead More The Negative Impact of High Stakes Standardized Testing1191 Words   |  5 PagesStandardized testing is not a new concept; it has been in use since the mid to late 1990’s. However the â€Å"high stakes† focus on standardized testing is. The practices that accompany standardized testing have long been in debate. Those in favor of standardized testing will argue that the testing creates a system that increases grades and accountability among teachers, students and school districts across the coun try. On the other hand those that oppose standardized testing will argue the ill effectsRead MoreTaking a Look at Standardized Testing1518 Words   |  6 PagesStandardized Testing Currently Standardized Testing is one of the many issues currently plaguing the education community. Testing is a very touchy and controversial topic in the politics of education, particularly in the United States. There are many varying opinions debating on the successes and failures in the process of testing today. The controversies over standardized testing in the United State, and specifically New Jersey, stem from the testing process and the creation of these tests. SomeRead MoreArticle Analysis: The Four Effects of the High-STakes Testing Movement on African American K-12 Students781 Words   |  3 PagesFour Effects of the High-Stakes Testing Movement on African American K-12 Students discusses four ways in which high-stakes testing has harmed African American students in particular and recommendations for improving their school experiences. Standardized tests have become the main criteria to which student’s knowledge, teacher efficacy, and school quality are assessed due to No Child Left Behind. The authors discuss that one way African Americans have been harmed through high-stakes testing andRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1295 Words   |  6 Pagesfactor of whether or not a student may be admitted but in recent years, many colleges have begun to make standardized testing optional. Skeptics of standardized tests claim that higher test scores are not always an accurate indicator of intelligence but rather are more closely associated with socio-economic status (Milligan 2015). In 2013, Ithaca College made the decision to go completely test optional. Thomas Rochen, the President of Ithaca, explained that many students refrain from applying toRead More Problems With Standardized Testing Essay1454 Words   |  6 PagesIn Standardized Testing and Its Victims, an article written for Education Week, Alfie Kohn states: Standardized testing has swelled and mutated, like a creature in one of those old horror movies, to the point that it now threatens to swallow our schools whole.... Our children are tested to an extent that is unprecedented in our history and unparalleled anywhere else in the world. While previous generations of American students have had to sit through tests, never have the tests been given so frequently