20-fold increase in standardized testing coming with Gates Foundation's "Common Core":

[MadHound]

126. The fact that you can't fit a standard test to every child's learning style

Many kids simply don't take standardized tests well, no matter how well they know the material. They do better presenting, or writing, or some other way of assessment.

Furthermore, standardized tests simply don't count a child's individual differences in what they've learned. For instance, say a question asked a question about the First Battle of Bull Run. This test is given in, oh, say Alabama, where they refer to the battle as the First Manassas. The child doesn't find that answer, guesses and guesses wrong. There are lots of little details like that.

Then there is the fact that, for students, standardized tests don't mean shit. They have no stake in the test, no grade is involved, nothing. Thus, a lot of kids don't care and simply come in and make pretty patterns with their bubble answers.

Finally, why do we need nationwide standardized testing? When I grew up, we had three standardized tests during my entire K-12 career, and my generation grew up having a great education.

This emphasis on testing uber alles is leading us down a dead end. What we need to focus on is better pay for teachers, better equipped schools, and putting actual educators in charge of making education decisions, rather than businessmen and politicians.