Viewpoints

Assessment-Driven Reform:
A Leadership Approach

Conclusion

For some, there is great concern that the current emphasis on testing has gone too far and overlooks the fundamentals of what quality education should be. In short, there is a belief that testing is driving the education system. Bob Schwartz, president of Achieve Inc., a nonprofit organization created to promote standardsbased education reform, says, "The common denominator in good schools is that people are mindful of the tests. They know there are tests out there, but that's not what they're focused on. They're focused on high-quality instruction for all kids, based on a rich, challenging curriculum, ideally aligned with standards (cited in WGBH Educational Foundation, 2002a).

The new legislation makes it even more necessary for educators to recognize that annual testing is a tool or a device for leveraging and promoting meaningful change. A system of assessment is not an education system by itself. Rather, education leaders must see assessment as a means to chart a more clearly defined path for reform.

By understanding the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act as well as the shift from the notion of annual testing as a punitive act to assessment as a catalyst for school improvement, educators will be better able to engage in the task of providing all students with a high-quality education.