The United States faces a nationwide crisis in which our young people are reading at alarmingly low rates , with just 1 in 3 fourth graders meeting proficiency standards. So why are some on the right focused on standardized testing, not for students but for teachers?
Make no mistake, literacy is the big problem in public education. But it’s the kids we care about — we’re not so worried about college-educated adults. So it’s disappointing to see some choosing instead to focus on a decision by New Jersey to eliminate the requirement that all teachers pass a perfunctory standardized test before they’re able to get a teaching job.
It’s fair to point out that addressing a national early childhood literacy crisis requires ensuring that our teachers are properly equipped to do their jobs. We have to make sure our schools are staffed with effective, competent teachers, and we’ve got to make sure we don’t let standards slip. But get serious: A one-off standardized test isn’t the answer. Does anyone think teachers who graduate with a four-year bachelor’s degree won’t be able to read or do very basic math?…