A group of New York principals created a survey regarding testing in the state’s schools. More than 8000 parents responded, expressing serious concerns regarding the impact that tests have on their children’s health and learning:
- 95% were opposed to increasing the number and length of tests.
- 91% were opposed to standardized tests for K-275% reported pre-test anxiety (sleep disruption, crying, refusal to go to school, feelings of failure) for their children.
- 87% reported that the time devoted to standardized testing is not a good use of their children’s school time.
- 80% reported that test preparation prevented their children from engaging in meaningful school activities.
More than 6000 teachers also responded, many echoing similar concerns:
- 89% said that their students became more anxious (nervous, exhausted, overwhelmed, suffering from head and stomach aches) prior to and during testing.
- 88% said that test prep negatively impacted time spent on non-tested subjects, such as science and art.
- 65% said that their students did not have enough time for independing reading, project-based learning,
and critical thinking.