The use of standardized testing has been in controversy since it started, and especially when it became mandatory in 2002 under the No Child Left Behind Act. For decades, standardized testing has been a necessary test to determine a student’s achievement, improvement, and admission to college. Testing has made it possible for educators to know what to teach in class and prepare their students for the next steps in life. The dissenting opinion is that standardized testing should be the primary method of assessing student achievement and determining school funding. Standardized testing has been around since the mid-1800s to prepare students for college and the military. It has been developed over time until the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act, …show more content…
The results from standardized testing can identify areas of strength and weakness within educational systems as well as in the students. Standardized tests allow for comparisons between regions, states, countries, gender, and race. By highlighting these factors, educators can work on equitable opportunities for all students. The data can also identify successful strategies used in high-performing systems. Teachers can use that data and align their lesson plans to accommodate those strategies. By doing that, students can learn essential information for college and beyond. For college, standardized testing scores are required, such as the SAT and ACT. They are not the sole part of the admission process, but they do provide how well students perform academically, as well as provide scholarships based on how well the students score. Many scholarships are awarded to high-scoring students and minorities. Based on this information, schools are fully responsible and fully accountable for teaching their students the necessary information to excel in standardized testing. Therefore, the primary method of assessing student achievement and determining