Study: State tests still the tail wagging the dog in public schools

By Kathy Slobogin
CNN Education Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Most states have adopted some form of standards-based education for elementary and high schools, but the schools place more emphasis on state tests that are based on weak academic standards or do not match what is taught, according to the American Federation of Teachers' annual report.

Highlights of the teacher's union annual report assessing states' education standards:

• 29 states and the District of Columbia have clear and specific standards for English, math, science and social studies, up from 22 in 1999;
• no state has adequately aligned tests and curriculum and accountability measures;
• almost a third of states' tests are based on weak standards;
• 44 percent of the tests are not linked to the standards;
• one-third of tests used to determine promotion or graduation are not aligned to standards.

AFT President Sandra Feldman concludes that so far it is tests, not standards, that are driving education reform, with tests often becoming the sole determinant of whether a student moves to the next grade.

She said the backlash against testing that has flared in several communities will spread if the states don't do a better job.

With pending federal legislation requiring annual testing of students in grades 3 through 8, Feldman sais Congress should take heed.

"If Congress requires the tests, it should also require that they be of high quality -- and it should pay for that quality," she said.

Beyond paying for tests Feldman said Congress should make sure the new required tests will not simply be layered on top of existing high-quality state and district tests.

The complete AFT report, released Thursday, can be found on the AFT Website.

American Federation of Teachers -- Annual report

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