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>>Print Page >> Contact Us What is measured then can be improved. Testing provides educators, parents, and policymakers with the information they need to help students succeed. Standardized tests are used to help improve teaching and learning and to evaluate students and schools. Tests also generate important data from which policy decisions can be made. And in the end, all of this information results in a better education for our students. By knowing exactly where students stand, teachers are able to teach more effectively and schools become more accountable. The information collected from standardized tests is used for a number of purposes: Teaching students by their individual instructional needs. A test may be used to diagnose a student’s strengths and weaknesses, allowing educators to choose effective instructional programs for the individual student. Demonstrating students’ proficiency in fundamental skills and their ability to meet academic standards. Test results are used by states to demonstrate individual student mastery of specified levels of achievement. Tests also may be used to indicate readiness to graduate high school, or be promoted to the next grade. Informing parents and the public about school and student performance. States, school districts and schools administer standardized assessments and report the results, in part to inform the public about how well the schools and their students are progressing over time and compared to other localities or schools. The results of the tests can motivate education reform by informing and influencing parents and policymakers to take action to improve the quality of local schools. Holding schools and educators accountable for student performance on tests aligned to high standards of what students should know and be able to do. Consequences are often attached to test results and may include school improvement plans, technical assistance, increased or decreased funding for schools, salary bonuses, promotions, loss of accreditation and takeovers of local schools by the state. Evaluating programs. Federal and state education programs use standardized tests to determine if policy and programmatic objectives are being achieved. >>back to top