Why Do We Need Standardized Testing In Schools?

Each child throughout the school year is required to take standardized tests. These tests help create a better understanding of what each child individually may or may not be learning. This also shows what teachers may or may not need to improve on while teaching the class the necessary standards they will be tested on. What people fail to see about standardized testing is how the scores can help improve each child’s learning ability and the way teachers go over the material. I chose to write about this topic because I have never been a good test taker nor have I been a fan of standardized testing. However, throughout this paper I hope to enlighten everyone on the importance of standardized testing and why they require it throughout schools.
“The earliest record of standardized testing comes from China, where hopefuls for government jobs had to fill out examinations testing their knowledge of Confucian philosophy and poetry.” (Fletcher, 2009) Since then standardized testing has changed extremely. Yes, it has somewhat the same concept, but now standardized testing helps enhance learning programs and creates more money in areas that may lack some important aspects, which comes from the No Child Left Behind Act. “In 1905 French psychologist Alfred Binet began developing a standardized test of intelligence, work that would eventually be incorporated into a version of the modern IQ test, dubbed the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test.” (Fletcher, 2009) This man has allowed multiple opportunities for student education throughout the years. He created a way to provide teachers and school systems with answers to how students may learn and what may be more difficult for students to learn. The outcome of this has helped better the curriculum and created a better way to enhance learning opportunities in school
“Outside of standardized test results, no objective method exists for policymakers to identify either poor-performing schools needing intervention or high-performing schools deserving rewards.” (Churchill, 2015) Administrations should strive each year to create a curriculum for teachers to teach students to prepare for the standardized testing in hopes of high-test scores because without these tests, we may not know how to improve. It should be motivational for each school because it is a chance to learn and improve as a school system to create the best education for each child. It is a growing experience each year for each school system and standardized testing broadens the horizon by viewing test scores and receiving money for parts of the curriculum that may need more improvement to enhance each child’s learning opportunities. At the end of the day everyone’s goal in each school system is to create a well-rounded and achievable learning atmosphere for each student where they can be successful and improve in every