City Council Hearing Looks Into Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing

By Mike DeNardo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A City Council hearing is looking into the pros and cons of standardized testing in Philadelphia schools.

Standardized tests like the PSSAs and now, the Keystone exams, are a major measure of student performance in Pennsylvania. But Philadelphia teachers union president Jerry Jordan told a Council hearing that they haven't helped.

"Our fixation on these tests has done very little to improve the quality of public education," he says.

Passing the Keystone will be a high school graduation requirement in 2017.

"I would be more comfortable with the tests if I felt that the students were being adequately prepared in class to take them," says the Council's education committee chair Jannie Blackwell.

Parent activist Alison McDowell says the state is spending too much on testing materials.

"I would say $58 million in today's climate to test children we know we're not providing adequate resources for is highly questionable."

She advises parents to opt their children out of the tests.

You may also be interested in these stories:

In:
• Philadelphia School District
• Education
• Philadelphia