We definitely do not want to assess how well the entire district or teaching curriculum is doing based on these tests. Overall, standardized tests are only one segment of the data that goes into evaluating students and the district's curriculum, explained Kaneland Curriculum Director Janice Carnes. In the 1999-2000 school year, there was 57.50 hours of testing. This means that the amount of money spent on students, along with the demographics and background of the student, are the really true predictors of student achievement. Kaneland Elementary North Principal Linda Albrecht agrees.
Teachers do feel pressured.
It defeats the purpose. Carnes explained that Kaneland recently rearranged the curriculum within a grade level. The new standardized tests assess students' knowledge of American history in fourth grade. According to Carnes, there is a piece of legislation in the works that would freeze the ISAT for five years. There are some schools in the area who buy ISAT preparatory materials and teach how to master the test.