How are tests helpful to education decision makers and taxpayers?
Schools, school districts and county superintendents analyze test results to measure student progress, identify areas where improvement is needed, and allocate resources accordingly. Test scores can indicate where school leaders may need to boost instruction, either through curriculum changes or professional development for teachers. Likewise, state and national policymakers use test results to compare progress among school districts, counties and states. The public uses test results as a way to determine how taxpayer investment in public education is paying off. When taxpayers are surveyed, they indicate a willingness to invest more tax dollars in public education, but they also demand accountability and progress, and view standardized tests as an important way to measure such progress.
