SOCI 1001 Chapter Notes - Chapter 15.5: University-Preparatory School, Unintended Consequences
Document Summary
15. 5 organization practices: testing and tracking: united states has seen increasing emphasis on large-scale high stakes achievement tests. Stakes are high because a single test may determine if children move to next grade if they graduate from high school. Tests may be used to hold educators, schools, and school districts accountable: purpose, set higher standards for student learning and raise student achievement. Encourage them to drop out or transfer (unintended consequence) Forcing some students into special education when not needed just so everyone else can pass tests: no child left behind (2001) Intended goals to reduce achievement gap between low-income or minority children and higher income/white children. State level annual tests report school level data on ethnic groups. Financially rewards or punished school districts/schools/teachers for achievement of students. Some schools and districts (and their students) are even worse off after being punished. Emphasis on testing takes valuable time away from students to conduct the tests.
