Leaving students behind: The tyranny of testing

Bob Schaeffer, Executive Director of FairTest, talks about high-stakes standardized tests as barriers to equal opportunity. Fairer college admissions criteria are increasing admissions diversity, but well-funded supporters of high-stakes tests are still resisting replacement of the tests in elementary and secondary schools. Many schools eliminated high-stakes testing during the pandemic, and FairTest supports making high-stakes waivers or repeals permanent. Overview 00:00-00:46 Intros 00:46-01:31 FairTest’s objectives 01:31-02:22 Most success in higher ed 02:22-03:40 Changes in test use in college admissions 03:40-05:20 Affect on affirmative action 05:20-06:48 Relative costs in time and money of alternative measures for college admissions 06:48-07:33 Admission of foreign students 07:33-08:47 High stakes testing in other countries 08:47-10:48 Changes in high stakes testing in K-12 10:48 13:05 Resistance to changes in K-12 testing 13:05-15:17 Organizations who oppose changes; National PTA changed its position and began to support testing after Gates Foundation funding 15:17-16:59 Black parents’ concerns about wanting an “objective measure” of their child’s knowledge and why standardized tests don’t provide that 16:59-18:45 Alternatives to high stakes testing 18:45-20:09 False  promises of improving academic quality and reducing gaps 20:09-21:57 Appropriate role for standardized tests 21:57-23:34 Testing and regulation of charter schools 23:34-24:50 Corporations in testing-industrial complex

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