Testing and Accountability?! Is That Still Going to Be a Thing?

In this episode of Evidence in the Wild, I explore the current uncertainty around accountability and standardized testing in U.S. education policy. With no changes so far in federal guidance on accountability, many are wondering… will testing mandates disappear? Will states be left to decide? Or will things stay the same… for now? As someone who’s long been skeptical of standardized testing, I find myself in an unexpected position of making the case for why some form of consistent measurement still matters. Without it, how do we track progress in literacy, math readiness, or intervention effectiveness? That said, I fully recognize the downsides. Our students are tested more than ever, and I’ve experienced firsthand how these systems can fail the very students they’re meant to help. Join me in this honest reflection about what’s at stake, what we might lose, and where we go from here.