Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, teachers are required to test students to make sure they meet adequate yearly progress goals or face actions that could result in a school takeover.
This has led some to charge that too much classroom time is being spent giving students tests at the expense of learning.
How much time should a teacher spend teaching to the test?
» Frank Aquino: “None! Tests should reflect the curriculum. Teachers should have reasonable discretion in allocating classroom time and determining the best methods to cover the curriculum and not teach to the test.”
» Marcelino Bedolla: “If the curriculum is … aligned to the state assessment tests, then teach the curriculum and the rest will take care of itself. We are in the business to educate the kids, not to teach to the tests.”
» Larry Cohen: “… Good instruction should … include test-taking strategies that reflect the manner in which students will be assessed. … Teaching to the test … should mean overall good teaching practices and methods.”
» Allen Dyer: “Teachers should teach the curriculum ? not the test.”
» Sandra French: “[How much time should be devoted] To the test? None. Devote classroom time to teaching the curriculum. … To reveal how well the student has learned, and what needs to be re-taught, tests must accurately reflect the curriculum.”
» Ellen Flynn Giles: “Testing is an essential instructional planning and assessment tool. HCPSS curriculum already includes and exceeds state standards measured by the mandatory tests. Preparation for state formats should minimally impact instruction.”
» Patricia Gordon: “Our teachers are not required to teach to the test, but are required to teach the … curriculum. … Testing, whether informal classroom tests, locally developed tests or state-mandated tests are required to measure progress.”
» Joshua Kaufman: “NCLB and the state equivalent … mandate an increasing amount of testing. … Our students learn things like algebra, reading, biology and U.S. history. … We [also] offer … classes and lessons … on topics … not tested for.”
» Roger Lerner: “When practice for particular ?test prompts? takes disproportionate time from the regular reading and writing curriculum, ?teaching to the test? is a problem.”
» Don Marston: “Enough time to give students the training they need to pass the test, but still allow[ing] the students time to learn.”
» Dr. Janet Siddiqui: “There should be a balance between the curriculum, standardized testing and the needs of the students. While tests are a mechanism of evaluation, we shouldn?t lose sight of educating children.”
» Peter Sola: “Testing ought to be done … most importantly … as a diagnostic tool to identify deficiencies that can be remedied. Identifying academic issues is critical in increasing our students? skills. …”
» Di Zou: “Teachers should spend as much time as they need to … adequately cover … the curriculum and the test. … The test should not differ from the curriculum that much.”
Paul Aliprando did not respond.
At a glance
» Today is the seventh story in a series that features the opinions of Howard County School Board candidates on school issues chosen by The Examiner. On Friday, the candidates will discuss whether the state tests are an adequate measure of students and teachers.
