To Test or Not to Test — Why Standardized Testing Actually Matters

BAILEIGH CAMPBELL public information intern, Cache County School District

Every parent genuinely desires to ensure their child is prepared for a successful future. An important element of that preparation is a student’s education and related academic performance. One measure of academic performance is the summative testing that takes place in schools at the end of a course or the end of the year. These standardized tests measure a student’s knowledge and skills in a particular subject. When it comes to testing, some parents might ask themselves, does it matter if students take the test? Does anyone use the scores to make changes or help students academically? Is it worth the stress on test day? The answer to each of these questions is a resounding yes!

According to Cache County School District (CCSD) Assessment and Grants Director Blake Pickett, test results are used as a guide by teachers, schools, and the district to better help students in our classrooms succeed. The district’s priority is to help each child learn and to prepare them for life after high school. “We’re not here to pressure students to perform a certain way. That’s not what this is. There’s a benefit for students in it,” Pickett said. “Students need certain skills to do well from second to third grade or as they move through high school, and one way to measure that is through testing.”

Robyn Hedgecock, CCSD assessment systems manager, explained that the school district uses standardized test results to improve programs and help district staff and teachers better support students. “Tests gauge how students measure against state standards. We can determine where they are, where we are in our programs, and if our programs are producing the effect that we want for our students,” she said.

Hedgecock explained that students take two types of tests during grades K-12. Some tests, especially those taken in the early grades, are used as screening tests to evaluate where kids are. For example, in kindergarten, students take the KEEP test, which assesses students’ kindergarten readiness and helps guide teachers throughout the year.

The other types of assessments are scored and used by the district, state, and nation to evaluate how students and programs are doing. These tests include the RISE Test and the Utah Aspire Plus Assessment. From third through eighth grade, students take the RISE Test, which tests math and English language arts. Students are also tested on science beginning in fourth grade.

In ninth and 10th grade, the Utah Aspire Plus assessment is given, which assesses a student’s knowledge and understanding of math, science, English, and reading. In addition, this test gives students a predictive ACT score and guidance for which classes they should take moving forward. In eleventh grade, students take the ACT, which is utilized by many colleges and universities for determining admission and scholarship eligibility.

Pickett explains that district teachers, school administrators, and staff look at several things from test scores. First, they look at the proficiency score, which indicates students’ passing level. Also taken into consideration are the students’ growth scores, which represent the growth students had in a specific subject between years. After looking at the scores, teachers and staff focus on determining why their students got those test results — whether they are high or low.

Educators want to know what worked well, where the gaps are in students’ understanding, which events in the school year might have impacted the results, and more. According to Pickett, this information is used to make an action plan to improve student learning. It helps to indicate which extra resources teachers and students might need and to set goals for the upcoming year. The results are used as a guide to creating more individualized instruction. This happens at the district level, school-wide level, class level, and individual student level.

Knowing the importance of testing for a child's educational future, how can parents better support their kids during testing? The best thing parents can do is encourage their children to take the test and support them throughout the testing process, emphasizing that they just need to do their best and not stress about their scores. If parents understand the importance of standardized tests on their child’s future, they can help their child have a positive attitude and experience with testing.