Have you encountered them yet at your school? You know, those mandatory new state tests. These days, it's not just students and parents who are showing signs of test anxiety -- it's teachers, administrators, and public officials too.

What is the best way to measure how well schools are performing? By testing the students By testing the teachers By testing the teachers and students By the number of students who go on to college Other

In an effort to hold school districts accountable for higher standards, most states have established academic benchmarks at each grade level. Now we're seeing a new generation of tests specifically designed to assess how well students are meeting those benchmarks. Whether you applaud or deplore this reality, all signs show a continued push for mandatory testing of students in fourth, eighth, and tenth grades.

Beyond multiple choice
Because they reflect higher expectations, the new tests are designed to be considerably more challenging than previous standardized models. For one thing, they've departed from a strict multiple-choice format and involve open-ended questions and essays. The newer math and science tests frequently require students to show how they arrived at answers.

What if my child doesn't perform well?
Educators are quick to point out that the new tests are likely to produce lower scores -- at least at the outset. That seems to be the case in every state where a new testing program has been put into place. So don't have a meltdown if your child's score doesn't meet your expectations. Results are expected to improve as students become more accustomed to the new formats.

A peek at one test
New York State is a good example of the national movement toward tougher curricular standards. In January '99, fourth graders were introduced to a new state reading test designed to assess the new standards more effectively. Administered over a period of three days, the test begins with a familiar multiple-choice format. On days two and three, it breaks with tradition and emphasizes listening, note-taking, and writing skills. In one section, students are required to write essays about literature -- a real departure from penciling in those little answer bubbles. And the results will have consequences -- those performing poorly may not be promoted to fifth grade.

Forty states have adopted standards in English, math, science, and social studies. As tools are developed to measure those standards, educators face a tricky challenge -- how to evaluate the results reliably and fairly. Test items designed to assess writing skills, problem-solving strategies, and creative thinking require humans -- not machines - -to evaluate the results. How successfully that plays out remains to be seen.