How many states require standardized tests

Failure to do so will cripple the validity of the results by conflating changes in student populations with changes in student proficiency. A school that has an out-migration of previously high-scoring students will look like it needs disproportionate assistance when it does not. A school that has an out-migration of low-scoring students will look like it does not need assistance when it desperately does. This year, unlike a typical year when almost all students are in school, we must pay attention to both students who are tested, and those who are not.

All states should calculate these metrics, even those who believe that they will have high attendance rates. Standard attendance rates may dramatically underestimate student absenteeism, by neglecting students who would be in school but for the pandemic. Students and parents who want to test should be able to test, to know where they stand and help to allocate additional support.

Students and parents for whom testing would be stressful or unsafe should be able to opt out. But the greater the number of students who are tested, the better we will be able to allocate support where it is most needed. States should additionally commit that data will not be repurposed inappropriately for accountability metrics in the future. This is a year when we should hold educators harmless and focus on student need. States should opt-out of accountability and opt-in to smart metrics for state testing.

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Again, though, you should be mindful of whether the materials are good quality. Few states exceed the science testing requirements, and most states test science in fourth or fifth grade, eighth grade and once in high school through an end-of-course assessment in biology. The information in this resource covers only those assessments that are mandatory statewide for all students, including those tests that fulfill federal testing requirements. Many states exceed federal requirements by requiring, for example, a statewide summative assessment in social studies or a college entrance exam, in addition to high school math and English language arts testing.

Click on the assessment type below for State Comparisons showing how all states approach specific assessments. Locally selected assessments may also be used to provide additional information to parents, teachers, schools and districts, but these are not represented in this resource.