Lessons from test-based education reform in the U.S.

TLDR: In this paper, the authors sketch the evolution of accountability-oriented testing in the U.S. and highlight the important issues raised by the early stages of this process and conclude with several recommendations for the development of new accountability systems.

Abstract: Germany and many other nations are in the early stages of constructing test-based systems for monitoring the educational system or holding educators accountable. The American experience with such reforms, which began there more than 30 years ago, holds lessons for nations now starting on this path. Research has shown several serious problems with accountability as implemented in the U.S., including sometimes severe inflation of scores. However, the extant research is limited and leaves many essential questions about the design of accountability systems unanswered. This paper sketches the evolution of accountability-oriented testing in the U.S. It describes a number of the important issues raised by the U.S. experience, noting both research findings and gaps in the extant research. It concludes with several recommendations for the development of new accountability systems