LATimes Criticizes Evaluating Teachers, Schools Based On Student Tests

The Los Angeles Times (6/1) editorializes, "When California began evaluating schools largely according to results on annual standardized tests, policymakers hoped that the new system would hold teachers and administrators accountable," but the system they established uses a test which does not impact students' grades, therefore, students who "couldn't care less" about their school's performance could slack off, skewing the results. "That's unfair to the school and its faculty, producing results that don't accurately reflect what students have learned." The piece applauds Los Angeles' plan to give students who score well on the test extra credit, but warns of the risks of overreliance on standardized testing.