125th Morrison Congress

2nd Session

H.R. 125-054

Title of the Bill: Optionalization of Standardized Testing Act

Main Author(s): Rep. Jay Hu (D-RI), Rep. Esther Park (R-CA)

Co-Sponsor(s):

BE IT ENACTED BY THE MORRISON CONGRESS

1 SECTION 1: Findings
2 Congress makes the following findings:
3 1) Standardized tests measure a student's temporary performance, and does
4 not indicate a student's potential success. A study from Brookings Institution
5 determined that 50% to 80% of student test scores were mere fluctuations in
6 performance, and did not show mastery of any long-term skills or knowledge.
7 2) In 2011, National Research Council reported that test-based incentives, such
8 as competitions and scholarships, were not effective enough to have
9 substantial impact on a students learning.
10 3) A national study in 2007 has found that 44% of schools show reduced time
11 spent on science, social studies, and art curriculums. Later, a survey was
12 conducted on 1250 school teachers, and 75% of the teachers cited
standardized testing as the culprit to the reduced class time.
13
4) Standardized tests are not as objective as most consider. The multiple-
14
choice format adapted by many standardized tests encourages an
15
impractical way of simplistic-thinking and guessing.
16
17 SECTION 2: Purpose
18 The purpose of this bill is to optionalize standardized testing in the college admission
19 process of public universities.
20
21 SECTION 3: General Provisions
22 This bill provides that students will not be required to submit standardized test scores
23 for college applications, with the exception of certain circumstances (family
24 situations, natural disasters, location, disabilities, etc.) Colleges will instead focus
25 the assessment of the students potential on extracurricular activities, essays,
26 interviews, portfolios, and school grades, and place minimal emphasis on
27 standardized tests. This will shift all schools into adopting a holistic admission
28 process, evaluating students based on their accomplishments with respect to
29 unique personal circumstances, instead of classifying students based on
30 standard test scores.
31
32 SECTION 4: Definitions
33 Standardized testing: Any form of test that requires all test takers to answer the
34 same questions, or questions from a common bank of questions. The test is
35 scored in a consistent, standard manner.
36

Works Cited:
https://standardizedtests.procon.org/sourcefiles/incentives-and-test-based-accountability-in-
education.pdf
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2001/05/23/37brookings.h20.html
https://knightfoundation.org/press/releases/survey-finds-teaching-to-the-test-has-negative
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar99/vol56/num06/Why-
Standardized-Tests-Don%27t-Measure-Educational-Quality.aspx