Ep 15. Testing Our Schools

Testing Our Schools is the 15th episode of Season 20 of Frontline. This episode takes a hard look at the state of American education and the impact of standardized testing on students, teachers, and schools across the nation.

As the No Child Left Behind Act put more emphasis on standardized testing, schools began to focus more on test scores than on providing a well-rounded education for students. The pressure to perform on tests has led to endless test preparation, drill-and-kill lessons, and a narrowing of the curriculum. Some educators argue that this emphasis on testing takes away time and resources from other important areas of education, such as music, art, and physical education, and ultimately harms students' overall development.

The episode features interviews with educators, parents, and policymakers on all sides of the issue. Some educators argue that testing is necessary to hold schools accountable and ensure that students are meeting basic standards. Others argue that there are better ways to measure student learning and hold schools accountable that don't involve high-stakes standardized tests. Many educators believe that standardized tests don't provide an accurate picture of what students are really learning, and that they are particularly unfair for students who don't test well or who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Testing Our Schools also takes a critical look at the testing industry itself, examining how companies like Pearson have profited from the standardized testing craze. Pearson now dominates the testing market, and critics argue that the company's products are costly, not well-aligned with what students are actually learning, and are often plagued with technical issues. The episode investigates claims that Pearson's tests are poorly designed, sometimes riddled with errors, and even that Pearson is using student data to market products to schools.

One particularly controversial aspect of standardized testing is the use of the results to evaluate teachers and schools. The episode examines the consequences of test-based teacher evaluations, including how they have led to a focus on test scores at the expense of other aspects of teaching and learning. Many teachers argue that the evaluations are unfair and don't truly capture their skills and contributions to student learning.

Testing Our Schools also explores how the testing craze has affected students themselves. Many students feel anxiety and stress about high-stakes testing, and some report that they feel like failures if they don't perform well on these tests. The episode features interviews with students who have felt overwhelmed by the pressure to perform, and examines how this pressure can lead to burnout, disengagement, and a lack of interest in learning.

Despite the concerns about standardized testing, it remains a key part of American education policy. Testing Our Schools leaves viewers with many questions about the state of American education, and challenges policymakers, educators, parents, and students to think more deeply about what kinds of assessments are truly meaningful and helpful for promoting student learning and well-being. Overall, the episode provides a comprehensive and thought-provoking look at one of the biggest issues facing American education today.