Admin

Why do we have testing?

Why is state testing required?

A: State testing is required by state and federal laws.

Although testing may be stressful for some students, testing is a normal and expected way of assessing what students have learned. The purpose of state assessments required under No Child Left Behind is to provide an independent insight into each child's progress, as well as each school's. This information is essential for parents, schools, districts and states in their efforts to ensure that no child--regardless of race, ethnic group, gender or family income--is trapped in a consistently low-performing school. 

  • No Child Left Behind(NCLB) required that, by the 2005-06 school year, each state must measure every child's progress in reading and math in each of grades 3 through 8 and at least once during grades 10 through 12.
  • NCLB also has in place science assessments to be administered at least once during grades 3-5; grades 6-9; and grades 10-12. New York State has set these assessments at grade 4 and 8 along with various Regents.
  • NCLB also states that we must ensure that districts administer tests of English proficiency--to measure oral language, reading and writing skills in English--to all limited English proficient students, as of the 2002-03 school year.
  • Students may still undergo state assessments in other subject areas (i.e., history, geography and writing skills), if and when the state requires it. No Child Left Behind, however, requires assessments only in the areas of reading/language arts, math and science.