Listening to Teacher’s Voices: Current Educational Assessment

Teachers have the responsibility to educate students. Teachers have an ethical responsibility to provide a safe and nurturing environment while ensuring academic success. Debate regarding standardized testing in the public schools has been a topic of interest and of concern for many parents, teachers, students, and stakeholders. Standardized testing occurs in all grade levels. First grade students undergo different mandated assessments, standardized and non-standardized, via whole-group and individual administration. Assessments administered include state, district, and school mandated. This study addresses the importance and relevance of assessments administered to first grade students, first grade teachers’ perspectives, and the impact this may have on teaching and learning. Surveys were distributed to first grade teachers from elementary campuses in a south Texas school district during the 2007 spring semester. Data analysis as well as discussion and recommendations are herein presented.