There is a difference between a high stakes test and a simple norm referenced test. Not only in the administration but also in the usage of the results.
Also if you chose to you can give an out of level test and with my school system you can't with the high stakes test.
And we are talking one test at the end of the year. My son has taken no less than 8 various tests to see if he was on track this year for doing well on the high stakes test. If he was English language learner or esol he would have had an additional 2 tests. When are they teaching between all the other testing...oh I know they gave up all their recess time to fit in the dang testing!
What is the high stakes test going to tell me? Nothing I don't already know....that he knows all the standards for his grade...he probably knew them about nine weeks into school...it won't show that he already knows about 80% of the next grade stanands and 50% of the ones two grades uo.
