Examples of Benchmarks in Educationĭepending on the state or school district you live in, the benchmark tests that are given will be different than somewhere else, even with the Common Core Standards in place. Benchmark testing coincides directly with Common Core Standards, as benchmark tests allow teachers to see whether or not students are meeting them. The standards tell teachers what to teach in each grade so that each and every lesson should be taught aligned to these Common Core Standards. Common Core Standards were designed by experts in the field who set guidelines, that if followed, would mean that students are prepared for success after high school. The Common Core Initiative, despite the fact it's been a highly controversial issue, was put forth with the notion in mind that all students in the United States would be essentially on the same page as far as their learning. This meant that every state had different standards, so if a student moved from one state to another, there was a good chance that student was either ahead or behind their new classmates. How does a school district or state dictate which standards students should be meeting at each grade level? Well, for many years, that was very difficult, considering education is conducted on the state level, not the federal level. Ideally, if all benchmarks are done correctly, then theoretically, all students in the United States would be able to graduate with all the knowledge they need to have to be successful, along with an equal chance of getting into college as all of their peers. Because standards are a little different in each school, as well as sometimes dramatically different between each state, benchmarks tell the student's next teacher whether or not this student would fit well in the class. Without these standards, students are at risk of being pushed from one grade level into the next, without having ever really grasped the material they should have learned in the previous grade level.īenchmark tests are also extremely helpful for students who have to move from one school district to another. By using benchmarks, teachers can learn about what may need to be reviewed with each individual student, as well as which students could benefit from being challenged just a little bit more.īenchmarks ultimately allow students in the same class to reach the standards set out by the state or the school district. They may even have a hard time figuring out what they need to teach. For starters, without benchmarks, teachers wouldn't really have any ideas as to whether or not their students are grasping the material. There are many reasons why benchmark testing in education is so essential in the lives of students. The Importance of Benchmark Testing in Education The benchmark study, then, can tell school administrators a lot about how their school district is performing, and whether or not changes needed to be made to the status quo. Likewise, if students continue to do well on their classroom benchmark tests, then it's likely they will also score well on state benchmark tests too. If a number of students are collectively not passing their benchmark tests, then it's clear that something is failing in the system, which is something evaluators can learn from the benchmark study. Students are expected to pass their benchmark tests, otherwise, they may have to return back to the beginning of the unit or at least review some key concepts. It's taking a look at the process of benchmarking over a school year at a minimum, which involves instruction, review, practice, testing and finally, evaluation. What Is a Benchmark Study?Ī benchmark study is what's happening outside the benchmark testing itself. Benchmark tests, therefore, need to be the same across the board, in order to have a way to truly understand and compare performance levels among students. For instance, standardized tests like the New York State Regents Exams are considered benchmark tests, but so are smaller tests given by a kindergarten teacher in Language Arts. Benchmark tests come in all forms, but generally speaking, they're tests that are given after a certain unit is taught, a grade is completed, or they're given as a subject level evaluation. Benchmarking helps to keep students on track for success, and can ultimately raise the standards for education in a classroom, grade level, school or school district.
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