Not All Tests Are Created Equal

Abstract

This case focuses on one parent’s request to have his daughter exempted from district-mandated computer tests (called STAR Enterprise tests). These tests are administered several times per year as a formative assessment to gauge student achievement in the areas of reading and math. The parent was concerned that the district was spending too much time testing and not enough time teaching students. The principal of the school and the Director of Assessment and Accountability for the district had to determine whether a parent’s wishes for his child superseded the mandate set forth by the State Department of Education with regard to gathering sufficient formative data to monitor and report student progress.