I always hated taking the CRCT (was then known as the GCRT, as well as the Iowa Standard). Even as a child, I knew they were really a waste of time in determining how much students knew, and how well the schools performed on the whole.

The test has created such dishonesty. The only material that is taught in most schools is the material covered in the test. While the test is supposed to cover material appropriate for the grade level taking it, in general it covers all grade levels, so even a 5th grade student will see material they covered back in 1st grade. All the textbooks in each grade level covered the basic stuff that was already taught in previous years before advancing to newer material. The newer material didn’t begin until five or six chapters into the book.

There was an episode of “The Simpsons” that made fun of how schools were teaching nothing but the test: there was even a scene of one classroom where the teacher had the students recite the correct answers for one section.

While I don’t see the CRCT or any other standardized testing completely going away, I do propose that perhaps the way they are administered and graded be changed. Right now the teachers of the school administer the test, and they, along with the principal and assistant principal, grade the tests. Perhaps the administration and grading of said tests be handled by an outside agency/group/source. I’d recommend the company that publishes the test, since they (supposedly) have a non-biased approach towards all schools in the nation. The company could set up branch offices in each state, and the employees from that office would be test proctors, whose job would be to administer and grade the tests.

The tests would be administered at the school, not in the individual classrooms, but in one main room that can hold all students from each school that would take the test, like the cafeteria, library, gymnasium, theater, or other similar large common area, like how the SATs are usually administered. Materials needed for the test (sharpened #2 pencils, blank paper for doing math problems, etc.) would be provided to the students in the testing area.

The test proctors would hand out the answer sheets, test booklets, and go over the instructions on how to complete the test. At the end of each day, they would collect the answer sheets and booklets, and take them back to the branch office. The next day, they would bring them back to the school, and continue with the testing.

After testing is completed, the answer sheets and booklets would be collected, taken back to the branch office, and graded at the branch office. Grading could take a couple of weeks, but with it being performed off-site, there is less risk of answers being changed to make one particular school look good. The company would have to enforce a policy that prohibits any and all proctors to accept gifts of any denomination or kind from the principal, assistant principal, dean, or any employee of said school or local board of education, under penalty of termination.

If not the company, then perhaps a department set up within the State Board of Education, consisting of test proctors and examiners, whose sole responsibility is to administer and grade the standardized tests. Those wishing to join would have to meet the following criteria:

1. Not presently be an employee at any of the schools, with perhaps the exception of those positions which do not involve direct interaction or involvement with the children’s education process (like janitor, secretary)

2. Not have a child presently attending the school. They could have a child that once attended the school, but graduated prior to their assignment to said school.

3. Not be acquainted with anyone whose child(ren) attend said school.

4. Not be acquainted with anyone employed at said school.

I know this leaves very little room for opportunity, but on the same token, it doesn’t allow a lot of room for bias towards one school or another.

Just like I mentioned above, the group would be responsible for administering and grading the tests, and the tests would be graded off-site (away from the school), either at the department’s office, or else sent up to the company that produces the tests.

The officials who perpetrated this fraud have been discovered and will most likely see their careers ended as a result. There is no evidence that they represent a danger to the public at large. We have the mechanisms in place to deal with this matter.

Why is no one questioning the level of importance placed on standardized testing that motivated these acts?