Review should focus on goal of student testing

For years, testing has been one of the most inflamed issues in education, pitting at least two educational priorities against each other. On the one hand is a drive for measurable and broad academic achievement, and accountability for those charged with achieving it. On the other is the desire to provide each student with an individualized education that moves at each student’s pace and yields an adult who is able to think and function creatively...

State Superintendent Paolo DeMaria announced ... the state will delay submission of an education plan required by the federal government in order to conduct a review of the state’s testing regime. Originally, the proposal left testing as it stands... So DeMaria has decided to appoint a panel to look for ways to streamline testing...

This review should include a discussion of the basic philosophy of testing and what it seeks to accomplish . ... The panel should ensure that Ohio has a system that ensures that students are being prepared to compete in a global marketplace...

Most of the drive for more rigorous testing, teacher accountability and for educational alternatives such as school vouchers and charter schools was born of concern that traditional public schools were failing to provide effective educations to large numbers of students. While it’s possible that accountability measures were pushed too far, the pendulum should not be allowed to swing too far the other way, either.

Read the full editorial from the Columbus Dispatch at bit. ly/2ngGDWZ