'Show Us the Tests'

By Mark Musick

There is a solution to many of the criticisms about student testing in America. It is relatively simple, inherently democratic, and may answer—or begin to answer—some of the fundamental questions critics raise. We are all familiar with these persistent areas of complaint:

What action will address such criticisms? It is, quite simply, to show the tests to the public and to parents—to produce enough versions of tests so that one can be made public each year. To paraphrase the popular catchphrase from the film "Jerry Maguire," this is a "show us the tests" approach. And it may be the best route educators and government officials have to public acceptance of the tests and engagement in their refinement. Showing a few sample test questions or a practice exam will not do. We should show the public and parents nearly all of the test questions used or an entire form of the test, year after year, and we should show them how well students did with the various test questions.

For parents, the best plan is that they see their children's actual tests, along with the children's answers. For the public at large, we should make the tests and the test results widely available by publishing them in newspaper supplements, duplicating and distributing such publications, and putting the information on the Internet. Nothing will be more powerful than showing the tests and the results to the public and to parents. It has the potential to dramatically alter the kinds of discussions we are currently engaged in, and lower the temperature...