Defending Standardized Testing

Many educational testing experts who acknowledge the benefits of testing also believe that those benefits have been insufficiently articulated. Although much has been written on standardized testing policy, most of the published material has been written by opponents. The contributing authors of this volume are both accomplished researchers and practitioners who are respected and admired worldwide. They bring to the project an abundance of experience working with standardized tests.

The goal of Defending Standardized Testing is to:
*describe current standardized testing policies and strategies;
*explain many of the common criticisms of standardized testing;
*document the public support for, and the realized benefits of, standardized testing;
*acknowledge the limitations of, and suggest improvements to, testing practices;
*provide guidance for structuring and administering large-scale testing programs in light of public preferences and the "No Child Left Behind Act" requirements; and
*present a defense of standardized testing and a practical vision for its promise and future.

Defending Standardized Testing minimizes the use of technical jargon so as to appeal to all who have a stake in American educational reform.