The Effects of High-stakes Testing on Teacher Instruction
Erin Gray
ED 601
Dr. Joy Brown
University of North Alabama
October 13, 2010
The Effects of High-stakes Testing on Teacher Instruction
Introduction
Since the completion of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, high stakes testing has
become the main concern of public school systems in the United States. Classroom
teachers are faced with the test of ensuring that all students reach the federally set aptitude
levels in Mathematics, English, and Science. The investigational design of this study is to
establish the effect these tests have on the instruction methods used by classroom teachers.
Teachers in Americas classrooms receive extensive preparation during their
undergraduate education that prepares the undergraduate student to teach critical thinking
skills rather than teaching to a test.
Significance of Study
Teacher instruction is the fundamental lifeline of the quality of education in United States
public schools. A high stakes standardized test that is the determining factor in capital
given to schools could place so much importance on that test that teachers are forced to
abandon the instruction methods they are so rigorously trained in. If this happens, the
students of today could potentially be robbed of critical thinking skills that are needed to
function in society long after they have completed their education. Assessing the effect
these tests have on instruction is a practical and efficient way to determine to what extent
this is happening in public school systems in the United States.
Statement of Problem
The purpose of this study is to take a look at how high stakes testing has changed the
method of instruction that teachers used in the classroom. The study focuses on how much
importance is placed on high stakes testing. The study will look at what kind of affect the
high stakes testing on instructional methods. The study will investigate the effect that high
stakes testing has on instructional methods used in publics school classroom.
Sub-Problem
Definitions
* Classroom “€“ a place of instruction
* Critical “€“ crucial or very important
* High Stakes “€“ something of great importance
* Instruction “€“ teaching methods used by classroom teachers
* No Child Left Behind Act “€“ act issued by Congress that places importance on high
stakes tests
* Skills “€“ a set of attributes
* Teacher “€“ the person in charge of imparting knowledge to students
* Test “€“ a method of collection learned knowledge
* Thinking “€“ act of using logic and reasoning ability
