The High-Stakes Universe of Standardized Testing

We live in a society of exceptional people and even more exceptional students. However, we judge this diverse group of outstanding youngsters by their ability to pass a standardized test. Teachers are paid not to educate youth by designing curriculum that caters to the student's personal needs. Instead, they are paid based on the data of these tests. What are the problems of this enormous, often criticized testing style? In what ways can it be a good thing? How can Los and Bertram research and present this topic in a fair, unbiased way? That will be the true challenge of this episode as Los and Bertram attempt to shed light on the benefits and flaws of this massive, national education system. Resources from this episode: https://standardizedtests.procon.org/ (Do Standardized Tests Improve Education in America | ProCon.org) Required Reading - https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/12/your-child-left-behind/308310/ (Your Child Left Behind | The Atlantic) https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/college-sat-redesign/ (Redesigned SAT may hurt neediest students | Reuters) https://apnews.com/article/standardized-testing-michigan-education-coronavirus-pandemic-373fe386620c3c92771aef65453fccee (Michigan denied standardized testing waiver for this year | AP News) https://apnews.com/article/standardized-testing-coronavirus-pandemic-texas-49fa537418004f7b7b1298be5fd0a446 (Texas high-stakes standardized tests canceled due to glitch | AP News) https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/effects-of-standardized-testing (Effects of Standardized Testing on Students & Teachers: Key Benefits & Challenges) https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/7/3/18629810/mark-zuckerberg-cory-booker-newark-schools (Did Mark Zuckerberg's $100 million disappear in Newark Schools?) https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/06/21/it-looks-like-beginning-end-americas-obsession-with-student-standardized-tests/ (It looks like the beginning of the end of America’s obsession with student standardized tests | Washingto