Education experts say the problem with basing promotions on tests alone is there is too much room for error. By relying too much on these tests, we are punishing minorities, special-needs students, students in bilingual education and students in communities with the least resources. Some teachers are concerned that standardized tests could go too far. Roughly half said they supported some adjustment to current initiatives designed to boost standards. What we need are also smaller class sizes, clear discipline policies, better reading programs.
Standards are important, but they are only one piece of the puzzle.
Teachers and other education experts are also concerned with the quality of the tests. Kids Aren't Worried While teachers and educational experts worry, students report little anxiety or resentment about taking standardized tests, according to the study. Only 19 percent of students surveyed thought that questions on standardized tests were so difficult they were unfair, and only 27 percent said they were forced to take too many such tests. Eighty percent said the tests asked fair questions. Just 5 percent of the student respondents said they became too nervous to take standardized tests.