Tom Fudge: Adults who attended school in this country remember taking standardized tests. Where I grew up, I remember how the Iowa Basic Skills Test came around once a year. But kids today, at least kids in the San Diego Unified School District, are being tested an aweful lot more.
Some students face 16 or more standardized tests, and we're not just talking about the basic math and language exams. There are screening tests and diagnostic tests. There are summative tests. Some administrators say the tests are a good way to gather data to refine the educational process, but some teachers have had enough. The issue here isn't just requiring educators to "teach to the test." Teachers say testing has been expanded so much it's become a huge distraction to everyone involved in the learning process.
Guest
- Ana Tintocalis , education reporter for KPBS News.
