There is no doubt about it; student assessments play an important role in any school. Assessments are often times the driving force behind changes to a school’s pedagogy. However, the research that has surfaced in regards to standardized testing has raised concerns about its efficacy. Below are some of the major reasons why we at FAITH have joined many other schools in saying no to the one-size-fits-all approach that is standardized testing, and what we do instead:

1. We have a customized curriculum. Our Tasks and Content are not limited to what a particular state mandates a school to teach. Our curriculum is designed from a variety of reliable sources to produce the best content possible. This is an ongoing process and involves painstaking efforts to ensure that we are always on the cutting edge of curriculum development. But it is a cause worth fighting for. Our children deserve the best! Therefore, it is illogical to place our students into a box that we exist outside of, especially when our funding has nothing to do with it.

2. We have our own assessment model. At FAITH, we assess students individually according to our customized Tasks and Content for each grade level and subject area. At the end of each main lesson block (and starting next year, at the end of each semester course as well), your child’s teacher will complete a Performance-Based Assessment on his/her strengths and weaknesses in relation to: Application of Tasks & Content, Attitude Towards Self and Others, Participation, and provide Goals Moving Forward. This holistic assessment is used to provide parents and teachers with valuable insight into the development of the whole child. Steven L. Solnick, Head of School at Calhoun in Manhattan published an article in 2019 in which he concludes with the statement “Maybe there is a silver lining - perhaps the growing unease with standardized tests as measures of achievement will stimulate the active development of alternative assessment and reporting schemes which accommodate and celebrate a wide variety of intelligences, achievement, and learning styles.”

3. We are a small school. Individualized student growth is our specialty. There is a reason why smalls schools are the hidden gems of our society. Be encouraged! The research proves that small schools have the highest marks for student achievement, safety, and emotional health. Please see our previous article: Small Schools: The Hidden Gems (Buckner, 2023)

4. Standardized tests neglect to give a comprehensive assessment of the whole child.

5. It is widely known in the educational sector that standardized testing eclipses more valuable and impactful activities.

6. We want to be advocates for change. “The more we learn about standardized testing, the more likely we are to be appalled. And the more appalled we are, the more inclined we will be to do what is necessary to protect our children.” (Kohn, 2000) By saying no to the standardized testing model, we are practicing what we preach. We want to raise innovative, critical thinkers, who are willing to question their surroundings, conduct their own research, and take a leap into something greater. We are also not alone. Many schools around the world are choosing to leave standardized testing behind. Thriving schools, might we add.

7. Many colleges and universities are also doing away with the SAT/ACT requirements in a large part due to the data that shows a correlation between test performance and socio-economic factors. (Solnick, 2019)

8. Colleges want well-rounded, analytical thinkers, who have the emotional intelligence to contribute to their campus. Students from holistic schools have a reputation for being academically and emotionally gifted. We will continue to offer the PSAT and the SAT as an option for our 8th-11th and 12th grade students, if any of them are interested, but it will never be required.

We hope these points help you understand our view against the culture of standardized tests. Our educational model is shifting and we are committed to being trailblazers in our community as we research the best ways to teach the next generation. We are not an anti-assessment establishment by any means. But we can confidently say that there is a better way to measure and quantify student growth and achievement and use that data to enrich our program and bless our students.

As an administrator, I am very pleased with the like-minded individuals we have at FAITH. Our families play an active role in their child’s upbringing and it shows. We have something very special here as we utilize Faith-Based Holistic Education for optimal growth and performance. Proverbs 3:6 “In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.”

Solnick, S. (2019). Headlines from Steve.

Kohn, A. (2000). The Case Against Standardized Testing: Raising the Scores, Ruining the Schools

Buckner, R. (2023). Small Schools: Hidden Gems. https://fcacoalinga.com/news

Written By Principal Buckner