In the article “The High-Stakes Testing...” Gary Orfield and Johanna Wald, both researchers at Harvard Graduate School, state that the policy of high-stakes testing was first conceived to help raise the educational standards but has only discriminated against high poverty and minority students. Public concern has caused political campaigns to discuss standardized testing policies in recent years. According to Orfield and Wald, public interest leaders feel that citizens want to hold the school systems accountable for the inequality of standardized tests, which are causing some educational advocates to show concern that some teachers will lower their standards so students scores will improve.
Orfield and Wald suggest that the reform movement of high stakes testing has worsened
In addition, the authors express that many educators seek alternative solutions to fix the problem with today’s testing by looking at the programs the students have been exposed to. Orfield and Wald cite that dozens of studies state that students in high poverty schools “make academic gains when they have access to quality early-childhood education programs...“ and “when they are taught in small classes by skilled and committed teachers...” (3). The authors believe that the main factor in bringing scholastic routines to new heights is the presence of certified and experienced teachers.
Also, Orfield and Wald point out that high stakes testing narrows the curriculum by teaching to the test. This is where teachers only educate the basic points of learning needed to pa
Example Essays Home
