Do you think standardized test scores should be the primary factor in evaluating schools, teachers, and students? Showing 109 responses

Only if all children are the same. Two parents, same income, IQ, sleep, attention span, emotional state, etc... 10/25/2014 8:30 AM

Standardized tests don't measure anything of importance! They are expensive, time consuming and all but worthless. 10/24/2014 9:45 PM

Again does not tell the whole story. Each student grows at different rates. 10/24/2014 9:44 PM

No, not all children learn the same & not all children test well. I believe we do need to make sure our children are at grade level. I also believe that we do need to ensure our teachers are teaching our kids the best way that they can however, to make standardized testing the primary way of doing this is absurd! 10/24/2014 10:53 AM

Again, I want to clarify. I think they should be a tool in the evaluation but certainly not the primary factor. Their daily instruction, interaction, and quiz/test/exam results should be factored in as well. In addition evaluations by students as well as parents who are the "customers" if you will should be taken into consideration. It is my opinion that teachers as well as administrators are TOO protected in their job. Nonproductive teachers continue to be retained all in part to tenure. 10/24/2014 10:27 AM

However, I do believe in high levels of accountability - for ALL school stakeholders. 10/24/2014 9:56 AM

No, that's just silly. 10/23/2014 8:56 PM

Test scores should not be ANY factor at all. 10/23/2014 11:54 AM

Not when studies show how much low income and all that goes with it affects student learning. 10/22/2014 6:49 AM

When all schools are staffed and funded to fully meet the needs of their students it might be possible. However, there is no way public or private schools can fully make up for parents who are undereducated, underemployed and addicted. 10/21/2014 5:33 PM

These tests do not show true learning and are an unfair evaluation of a teacher's skills. 10/21/2014 3:30 PM

That's like asking me "if a child is failing and doesn't do their homework should a parent's welfare check be diminished? "Standardized tests don't tell the whole story. 10/21/2014 6:24 AM

No- doctors don't get paid by how many people they cure. 10/21/2014 4:04 AM

Would you grade a doctor on his patients...NO...you cannot hold a teacher accountable for what a child does 10/20/2014 10:23 PM

In the current form the testing is not truly measuring individual student growth. It also does not measure reading/math. Tests are so complicated that even publicly released questions are difficult for me, with an M.Ed. And yet, we expect third graders to excellent. Also, it is NOT representative of college readiness.

~~~ NEIFPE Public Education Survey 2014

What educational research and pedagogy was consulted to create the standards? What validity and reliability tests were conducted to verify that the tests are indeed testing what we think they are? 10/20/2014 7:57 PM

Standardized testing has taught teachers how to play the game. I hate the fact that teachers are being encouraged to do the same things that our lawmakers are doing in Washington. Shame on anyone who supports standardized tests. The only people happy about standardized testing are the testing companies who are making a fortune. 10/18/2014 10:27 AM

By now there should be enough evidence that such pressure sometimes leads to questionable behaviors in some schools to show progress that is not really there. Other schools that follow the rules and don't show as well on the tests are unfairly penalized. The "playing ground" so to speak is still very uneven. 10/17/2014 4:13 PM

one test cannot possibly give you all the information concerning all the participants not even close 10/17/2014 11:21 AM

Graduation rate, secondary education enrollment, and job placement (CTE) should all be factors. 10/17/2014 8:02 AM

Same reason as above! 10/16/2014 3:51 PM

I think that schools could only be fairly evaluated by the use of standardized "same measuring stick" tests, but that teachers and students are better evaluated at the local level. 10/16/2014 2:43 PM

A multiple choice test does not exist that will tell if a student will be successful in life. Teaching the human spirit cannot be evaluated by taking a multiple choice test. 10/16/2014 10:55 AM

There are TOO many factors that affect student learning to narrow it down to one numerical score! 10/16/2014 10:47 AM

ABSOLUTELY NOT! 10/16/2014 10:30 AM

As a young adult and my childhood starting the era of "high-stakes" testing, I can say that there was very little learning that was accomplished through this process. The students just memorize what they have to for the tests and then quickly discard this information afterwards. Learning should be centered around building knowledge through reading and constructing this knowledge in students own interest areas. 10/15/2014 11:08 AM

Much too subjective. 10/15/2014 9:28 AM

It should be a multitude of things... improvement in scores from previous year, individual improvement, curriculum. Otherwise, teachers "teach" to the test. 10/15/2014 9:25 AM

No this is only one day. It may be a bad day or week at home and that child will not focus and then be at a loss which affects the school and the teacher even though that child may be a very good student on most days 10/15/2014 7:36 AM

A primary factor, but not the only one. 60% 10/14/2014 8:23 PM

There are too many variables that can influence students' test performance. In addition, some students are simply not good test takers. 10/14/2014 7:53 PM

~~~ NEIFPE Public Education Survey 2014

Some students do not test well. Very stressful for them. Other students give up and press any answer just to get finished. 10/14/2014 6:35 PM

No it is not a fair measure 10/14/2014 4:58 PM

Students learn in different ways. The "standard" is not always right. Teachers need to be able to be able to to teach these children the way they learn. When the student learns something they are having trouble with a teacher should be held acknowledged. If a child is having problem then it is our responsibility to make sure we find a way. For those teachers that do not try or fail to get any child the help they may need if they themselves see a child needs it, should be held accountable. 10/14/2014 4:54 PM

There are way too many factors that go into education that it cannot be boiled down to standardized tests. 10/14/2014 4:49 PM

As a measure, these scores reflect little about the quality of schools, teaching or student performance. 10/14/2014 12:23 PM

No, this is not fair to anyone. Students learn and test differently. The teacher teaches to each class and those classes are never the same. The problems each child faces are so different and those problems affect their tests, which affect the classroom scores and the teacher. Look at different ways to solve this problem. 10/14/2014 12:08 PM

There are a variety of types of learners, and familiar priorities that place education as important. 10/12/2014 7:53 PM

Absolutely not. 10/11/2014 8:03 PM

There are so many factors that come into play. Educating human beings is not the same as producing factory parts. 10/11/2014 12:04 AM

Test scores should only be used as a diagnostic tool. Much better methods are available to use for evaluations. 10/10/2014 8:37 PM

I only spend 35 hours a week with my students. They spend all the rest of their time at home. I can't be there with each of them to monitor what they do at home and make sure they are spending adequate amounts of time practicing the skills I teach them. There are many outside factors that affect how a child does on a test. 10/10/2014 7:59 PM

I have seen students show up for testing with no breakfast and smell to high heaven. That kid is not going to test well on that particular day (and neither is anyone near him!). 10/10/2014 10:55 AM

A child could be sick, have a bad day, or not even have the capacity to pass a standardized test. Moreover, if a student refuses to work or do well, a teacher is not the one responsible, but is the one who is blamed. This is not a fair assessment of what a student knows. 10/10/2014 10:46 AM

I think standardized test scores should be ONE factor in evaluating all three. 10/10/2014 10:35 AM

They should be considered, but not the primary factor. They should be used as another data point. 10/10/2014 8:24 AM

we need teachers to use their clinical judgment in observation and performance testing so they can disuse with parents what is observed 10/10/2014 8:00 AM

~~~ NEIFPE Public Education Survey 2014

Standardized tests are a very poor measure of the worth of human beings. 10/10/2014 7:54 AM

This is a metrically invalid measure of teacher performance. 10/10/2014 6:07 AM

A balanced model with considerations of: success (employability of graduates) , school culture, drop out rate versus retention rate, discipline of school, academic rigor. There are so many factors which could be investigated. 10/9/2014 4:05 PM

Teach in a school and you will know the answer. 10/9/2014 11:58 AM

How can you compare students at the poverty level with students who have parents with college degrees and a positive home life? 10/9/2014 10:12 AM

School and teachers should be evaluated through observation, collaboration, mentoring systems, and how much children progress from point A to point B during the year. 10/9/2014 7:57 AM

Teachers can not make student do their best...and evaluation should be based on the whole year not one set of scores 10/8/2014 11:35 PM

If that's what is being used to evaluate schools and teachers, then the state of our state's economy and how well our governor works with others should be used to evaluate those in the statehouse. 10/8/2014 9:43 PM

It should be one of the factors. Maybe 10 - 15% of the evaluation. 10/8/2014 7:45 PM

No. It is the most counterintuitive concept I have ever encountered. The lack of respect for educators is appalling. Current corporate written public policy is criminal turning the profession of education into a parttime job. 10/8/2014 7:42 PM

Absolutely not; connecting standardized scores to teacher and school success is junk science; it is not founded in research. 10/8/2014 3:30 PM

Standardized tests were and are not developed to measure the effectiveness of Teachers 10/8/2014 2:30 PM

God no! Any jackass (except those in the State House in Indianapolis) knows that a kid who comes to school hungry and who is worried that he will be harmed on the way to school will probably not do as well on a test. 10/8/2014 1:04 PM

These tests are not designed to evaluate teachers or schools if they are designed to evaluate students. We are not of the business model - we don't control where children begin and what their abilities are. 10/8/2014 11:36 AM

It is a snapshot, you wouldn't grade students or decide on their real learning or potential from one assessment and so we shouldn't use assessments of learning to grade schools or teachers or students, but to inform instruction and effectiveness of overall programming and building management. 10/8/2014 11:32 AM

There are better ways to evaluate schools and teacher as well as students. Just like the local school here has an A but this school is not an "A" school at all. 10/8/2014 10:00 AM

~~~ NEIFPE Public Education Survey 2014

In order for an assessment to be reliable & valid it should only be used for the purpose it was designed for. These assessments were designed to evaluate teachers. 10/8/2014 8:59 AM

Ridiculous way to measure. 10/8/2014 8:25 AM

Absolutely not. When a dentist is evaluated on a patient's oral hygiene, or when a fire department is evaluated based on the number if city-wide fires, I will be less critical. Until then, teachers cannot be held accountable for families who do not value education, for children of broken homes, for children who have no supervision at night, for children who are not fed or are not required to sleep--again, it's ridiculous. I think tests have their place, but to say a teacher is less or more effective based on ONE test is a failure of this state and nation. 10/8/2014 5:44 AM

Absolutely not.....There are too many reasons that standardized tests do not give an accurate picture of what a student has learned. Not all students should be measured with the same measurement tool. 10/8/2014 1:27 AM

Many children bubble-in the answer sheets as quickly as possible so they can avoid stress. 10/7/2014 9:33 PM

Until the state comes up with standards regarding a common grading scale for all students and a common evaluation form for all teachers the only factor you have is standardized test scores. 10/7/2014 8:32 AM

A more comprehensive means of measuring student success is needed. Let the teachers determine those measures, in conjunction with others at their schools. 10/7/2014 8:18 AM

We have long since discontinued using standardized tests to direct in diagnosing problem areas. The general population and that includes our legislators have no clue what information can actually be gleaned from these instruments. 10/6/2014 10:51 PM

Discourages schools and teachers from wanting to work with struggling students...it could hurt them financially. 10/6/2014 7:01 PM

Teachers are teaching to the tests, not educating our children on critical skills such as reasoning, thinking, complex problem solving, etc. 10/6/2014 5:34 PM

Absolutely not! 10/6/2014 3:18 PM

Teachers cannot control outside influences. Did kids have enough sleep, food, supportive family. 10/6/2014 1:35 PM

Did you know that our students that are labeled as severe and profound in their disability count against a high school graduation rate because they earn a certificate of completion? If you have not visited a severe and profound classroom, please do so. 10/6/2014 1:34 PM

They aren't in many school systems and they are not required to be the primary factor in this state 10/6/2014 1:12 PM

Whether you believe it or not, income and home environment make a huge impact on student learning. 10/6/2014 10:45 AM

Considering the extremely high number of non English speaking kids, and the deficiency that represents should be the top indicator.

~~~ NEIFPE Public Education Survey 2014

10/6/2014 10:44 AM

Teaching in many spectrums' of society...I feel that this should NOT be a factor for school and teacher evaluation...maybe you should add in the parents? ha Students need some kind of measure...but, not based on just standardized testing. This narrow focus leaves out a talented student in the arts or physical activity excellence. Why have other areas in life that may be more difficult to evaluate been left out? 10/6/2014 10:30 AM

All tests, whether standardized or not, should have only one purpose - to help students, schools, teachers, and yes, PARENTS, improve their skills. 10/6/2014 10:04 AM

This practice cannot be fair. Those who teacher brighter or mor motivated students would be paid more. Education involves so much more than filling in tests. Some teachers' salaries are determined by test scores in content subjects that they do not teach. The whole idea is political and designed to reduce teachers to puppets and do away with public schools in favor of for profit schemes. In addition, this makes sure that students are trained to be employees, not educated to be intelligent, discerning citizens. 10/6/2014 3:11 AM

Should a doctor be punished if a patient refused to take the pill the doctor prescribed and died? 10/5/2014 11:40 PM

never never never. 10/5/2014 11:25 PM

Only an idiot would beileve it should be. 10/5/2014 10:49 PM

No private testing company should hold that much power over public education. Ever. 10/5/2014 10:47 PM

Who has decided what is on the standardized tests? Politicians or companies that benefit from the use of standardized tests. The tests seem to be geared for failure so as to prove the point of the right-wing conservative agenda. 10/5/2014 10:00 PM

I am a music teacher and nearly 1/4 of my evaluation is based upon student test scores. 10/5/2014 9:38 PM

Absolutely not. Schools are not factories and students are not cans of carrots. Every year is unique, every student is unique, and so are the teachers and schools. Standardized tests cannot factor in all the variables every school year presents. 10/5/2014 8:22 PM

Absolutely not. 10/5/2014 8:20 PM

Standardized tests are a scourge in the schools and have turned my children's "F" school into a test prep military academy instead of a school where children in poverty have a chance to learn and grow. 10/5/2014 7:49 PM

we don't evaluate employees with standardized testing in other disciplines. why oh why do we impose this on kids and their teachers? 10/5/2014 6:49 PM

Public schools have no control of their school population. If you are in a poor urban or rural school district, you are dealing with a different set of issues than the schools with a high socioeconomic population. Life experiences, parental support, poverty, nutrition, etc. all affect how a child will achieve at school. The higher socioeconomic schools tend to have a much higher tax base and can provide more for their students (ie. technology) while also having students who have life experiences other than not having enough food, living in a neighborhood with drive by shootings, not having enough money for school clothes, etc. 10/5/2014 5:35 PM

~~~ NEIFPE Public Education Survey 2014

Education should not be about how well students test! There are an innumerable amount of factors that impact how students will perform in school, and most of them have nothing to do with school. 10/5/2014 5:31 PM

See comments in question #14 10/5/2014 5:07 PM

ABSOLUTELY NOT AT ALL! 10/5/2014 5:06 PM

My reasons are stated above but, to summarize, standardized tests were not made to serve this purpose, I am not convinced that they actually measure what they purport to measure, they only give you a snapshot of how a student is doing on a particular day, and it makes it seem that teachers are unable to determine whether students actually have demonstrated knowledge and growth. 10/5/2014 4:59 PM

Definitely NO 10/5/2014 4:56 PM

Not at all. 10/5/2014 4:44 PM

A doctor is not considered a failure if a portion of his patients die or fail to improve regardless of their willingness to follow doctor's orders. A lawyer is not a failure if his clients are found guilty. Teachers are not failures if circumstances beyond their control prevent students from passing a test. Students grow and mature physically, mentally, and emotionally at very different rates. It is ridiculous to expect them to hit educational expectations at the same time. 10/5/2014 4:26 PM

A school, its employees and its affect on the community are much more than just the narrow academic achievements of children and are both an influence on the community and influenced by the community. When the school, the community and the patrons it serves are all elevated by that relationship then everyone is achieving what they should. None of these three factors operates in a vacuum and can't be evaluated in a vacuum. 10/5/2014 4:19 PM

Absolutely not. The evaluations of the professionals--the teachers--should be the primary factor in evaluating students. Schools and teachers should be evaluated according to the success of their students as they move on in life. 10/5/2014 4:03 PM

Educators build learning relationships that plant seeds of learning.Some seeds sprout later than others. 10/5/2014 3:49 PM

NO NO NO 10/5/2014 3:43 PM

NO, NO, NO. There is much research to show the Value Added Model does NOT work. 10/5/2014 3:22 PM

I don't think test scores should be ANY part of evaluations. The margin of error is immense. 10/5/2014 3:19 PM

ridiculous!!!!! absurd! 10/5/2014 3:16 PM

There are many factors that determine a good school. 10/5/2014 2:42 PM

The test is a snap shot of the child and does not show their overall growth. 10/5/2014 2:42 PM

~~~ NEIFPE Public Education Survey 2014

How can you rate teachers who are working with the neediest of our students - whether that be due to poverty, family situations, and/or documented disabilities with the use of a single (purportedly) grade-level assessment? 10/5/2014 2:34 PM

~~~ NEIFPE Public Education Survey 2014