Standardized Testing

The state wants school systems to base almost a quarter of a teacher's evaluation on standardized test scores, but Madison Superintendent Thomas Scarice doesn't think it makes sense for his town. His students score so high on standardized tests —...

The state plans to take steps to avoid "double-testing" students next year while it transitions from the Connecticut Mastery Test to a new computerized test called "Smarter Balanced." The move comes as a result of a letter issued Tuesday by U.S....

When you're both a parent and a schoolteacher, there's a good chance that how you choose to fill your child's days over the long, lazy summer will be studied by those around you. With so much attention in recent years paid to the dreaded "summer slide,"...

Certain elements of the school system's teacher evaluation plan have been revised after being reviewed by the state Board of Education, according to Assistant School Superintendent Debbie A. Kaprove. "They had minor expectations for us to update our...

The Baltimore Teacher's Union has called for the district hold off on attaching penalties to schools' performance on the the new  Common Core assessments, citing insufficient professional development and resources to implement the new high-stakes...

My last comments about dropouts included the reasons for students leaving school and listed academic failure as one significant factor. Because of this factor, these students would also fall into the educational “achievement gap” category....

A McKinley Elementary teacher has been placed on administrative leave after a third-grade student reported that the teacher helped a class answer questions on state standardized tests this week. Burbank Unified Supt. Jan Britz, who made the announcement...

In an effort to encourage and excite its students for the state standardized test, McKinley Elementary School held its fifth annual Red Carpet Gala here Friday. The gala serves as an opportunity for the school to recognize its students who scored...

Andrea Rediske knew her special-needs son had no business taking standardized tests. He was born with brain damage. He suffers from cerebral palsy and is legally blind. Just teaching Ethan to say "yes" or "no" — or even keep his gaze focused...

Thank you for the article regarding "opting out" of standardized testing. In addition to the recent letters to the editor regarding the Core Curriculum controversy, this is a pertinent topic for parents and taxpayers in the state of Pennsylvania and...

As the annual standardized tests are being administered in Pennsylvania schools starting this week, a movement is growing among parents to opt out of the tests. North Star Superintendent Shawn Kovac said the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests...

Professional word merchants can get a little insecure when some unjournalist comes along and does a better job of putting passages together. It happens to me all too often. I'll write a column filled with dazzling piquancy and logic, and along comes...