The Future of Student Testing Forum

Comments  3

1. education assessment guy 1/31/2011

   There is a lot of controversy over education assessments and testing. I believe that every child needs to be assessed properly in order to help achieve success.  
   

2. Wayne 11/14/2009

   Great idea.  I think this is something the federal government should look at, and have all fifty states do the same thing.  With that idea, you wouldn't have every state doing something different.  Something to think about.
   
   

3. Terri Meyer 11/11/2009

   I believe that our high school students choose one of four paths after graduation.  The majority of them will choose to go on to a four-year college, a one or two year technical college program, a branch of the military, or directly into the work force.  Three of these four routes already have standardized tests in place that have reliability and validity that are accepted nationally. 
   
   For those students choosing to go on to a four-year college, they must take an entrance test of either the ACT or the SAT.  Four year colleges require one of these two admissions test.  My suggestion would be that if this is the route a high school student chooses, then s/he would need to get a minimum score determined by the state.  For example, the national average on the ACT is a "21."  So, the state could say that they require the student to achieve a minimum score of a "20" or above to meet the state's student assessment goal.  If the student doesn't meet this score, then it is our job as educators to better prepare them for the requirements of this and have the student retake the test to meet the standard.
   
   For students choosing to go on to a one or two year technical college program, they are usually required to take a valid and reliable test called the Accuplacer test (i.e. MATC) or the COMPASS test (WCTC).  Again, the state could propose what the minimum score would need to be for the student to meet the state's student assessment goal.
   
   For students choosing to go in to the military, they are required to take the ASVAB test (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery).  Again, this test has been refined to be a valid and reliable measure used by all military branches in our country.  If a student chooses to join a branch of the military after high school graduation, then again, the state could propose what the minimum score would need to be for the student to meet the state's student assessment goal.
   
   This leaves one group of high school graduates...those choosing to go directly into the work force.  My proposal would be that then this student would need to choose one of the above standardized, valid, and reliable tests and meet the minimum score or higher to meet the state's assessment goal.  All of these standardized tests are used by post-secondary institutions across our state and country, and I would hope we want to prepare our students for their next step out of high school....whatever their choice is.
   
   I do not believe that all high school students are four year college bound even though I will encourage them to achieve their highest potential.  But, I am very thankful for my fire fighter (who usually has a two year Associate's degree), my police officer (who usually has a two year Associate's degree), the military (who protects our country and our safety), my city worker (who may have entered the work force directly out of high school), as well as my doctors, teachers, dentists, etc. who chose to go on to a four-year college and perhaps beyond.
   
   Wouldn't it be wise to test our students based on what career path they choose upon high school graduation?

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