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 Benefits of Testing Your child, or perhaps even you, may ask why he or she has to take tests. Though tests serve many purposes, in today’s classrooms they are often given for these reasons: • To measure a student’s achievement • To provide information so teachers can better help your child • To monitor how well schools and school districts are performing • To meet legal requirements from federal and state education departments Testing aids student success. Tests are an important tool for measuring progress and helping students succeed. Without tests, students might pass from one grade to the next without mastering the reading, writing and mathematics skills that will allow them to succeed in life and work. Testing ensures equality in education. Testing also ensures that no matter a child’s race, gender, ethnic group or family income, all students have an equal playing field on which to succeed – and that no child is forced to remain in a consistently low-performing school. Testing holds underperforming schools accountable. Schools are required to demonstrate that their students are making progress yearly, and that all students are learning a core set of content standards. Testing is the vehicle by which schools demonstrate this annual progress. Schools that do not make progress are required by the federal government to provide supplemental services to students, such as free tutoring or after-school assistance. |
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