Pros and Cons of High Stakes Testing in California Research Paper

Pros and Cons of High Stakes Testing in California - Research Paper Example It is a tool of progress but not for judgment of the capability or cleverness. Moreover, data from statewide testing is normally available to the public hence every parent is capable of viewing the performance of the child. Accessibility of these information aids parents in making of more informed decisions concerning how their child fair on with education (Madaus, Russell & Higgins, 2009). High stakes examinations causes anxiety but annual testing and frequent practice tests assist children in advancing their test taking capabilities over a period. Thus, children are capable to learn how to deal with pressure, developing appropriate skills and strategies essentials in achieving the parent’s and school expectations (Au & Tempel, 2012). Conversely, teachers and corresponding experts possess solemn detriments in regard to high stakes testing. High stakes tests cause any discipline that is not related to mathematics and language arts not to be learnt in class. Moreover, science, social studies and art to be forfeit in order to create time for learning test prep (Au & Tempel, 2012). Pressure on the underlying teachers can clamp down the ingenuity and originality. Moreover, pressure from the administration normally results to less elasticity in developing lessons plan to the prevailing individual students. Escalated pressure on the prevailing parents and students is normally counterproductive in case the pressure is not constructive. How high stakes testing has helped or hindered student achievement or progress High stakes testing has resulted to development of alteration within the classroom that is important and positive. The plan has teachers to better plan their underlying instruction thereby allowing them the capability of narrowing in specific bodies of knowledge that are fundamental to students. This guidance of the curriculum have aided children in understanding concepts by compelling teachers to be more aware of state standard requirements in regard to teaching (Au & Tempel, 2012). Moreover, high stakes testing in schools have made the teachers to be aware of the matching instruction to what the students require to know in order to be successful on the state mandated tests. Nevertheless, high stakes testing allocate limited time within the school year thus does not permit time for infinite instruction hence impacting negatively on the part of the children (Madaus, Russell & Higgins, 2009). Description of state's testing system and high stakes testing High stakes testing grants teachers a chance to improve their skills in giving instructions and stipulate the standard that guide curriculum thus allowing more parental involvement within the education. Moreover, curriculum reflects on the state-mandated standardized test that is typically granted annually. State&apos as a testing system is a developed set of state standards that possess peculiar set of skills that students ought to be taught at particular grade level. It allo ws for easy movement of the students from one school to the other in the same state within the middle of school year. It was seen to be taking away the teachers creativity and abilities of teaching (Au & Tempel, 2012). Description of ethical questions involved with the testing The ethical questions in regard to the testing pertain to the perception that the technology was faulty even though underlying