NCTE
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • My Account
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • My Account
  • Membership
  • Events
  • Resources
  • Research
  • Groups
  • About
  • Get Involved
  • Join!
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Position Statements

NCTE and its constituent groups have developed position statements on a variety of education issues vital to the teaching and learning of English language arts.

< Back to Resources

Position Statements

  • Submit a Resolution
  • All Position Statements
  • NCTE Process for Adopting Official Guidelines and Short Documents
Position Statements
  • Submit a Resolution
  • All Position Statements
  • NCTE Process for Adopting Official Guidelines and Short Documents

Resolution on Testing Young Children

Date: November 30, 1989
Category: Assessment

1989 NCTE Annual Business Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland

Background

This resolution was prompted by the increasing practice of using norm-referenced, multiple-choice, standardized tests in preschool through primary grades, to determine children’s achievement levels, potential learning problems, and readiness for school. NCTE members warned that children’s inexperience with such tests can produce misleading results.

In addition, the members said, standardized test scores reflect neither the diversity of children’s preschool experiences nor the range of their development. They warned that if school systems use test scores to assign young children to curricular tracks, teachers may be prompted to replace sound educational activities with efforts to prepare children for tests. Be it therefore

Resolution

Resolved, that the National Council of Teachers of English urge legislators, state departments of education, and local school districts to end immediately the use of normreferenced, multiple-choice, standardized tests for children in preschool and the primary grades; and

that NCTE urge state and local affiliates to educate state legislators, administrators and other officials, and parents about the powerful and dangerous impact these tests can have on the development and education of young children.

 

This position statement may be printed, copied, and disseminated without permission from NCTE.

  • About
  • Get Involved
  • Events
  • Resources
  • Groups
  • Membership
  • FAQs
  • Donations
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Contact Us
  • Press
  • Advertisers
  • Career Opportunities
  • NCTE Connects

Subscribe to INBOX

INBOX is a weekly email wrap-up of the most important stories in English language arts education, ideas for your classroom, and news from NCTE.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

© 1998-2018 NCTE. All rights reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Links Policy
  • Terms of Use