Kelly Romero - Test Data Article

http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-4/standardized-test.html
Using Standardized Test Data To Guide Instruction and Intervention. ERIC Digest.
By Mertler, Craig A.
The purpose of this article to is to inform the reader of the positive uses of standardized tests and their corresponding test data. The article discusses how school districts and teacher can improve their curriculum by using the information that is obtained through the test data. “Using test scores to revise group instruction “and “using test scores to design individual intervention” are two key points mentioned in the article. In the first point, the article suggests that data from standardized tests across the curriculum can be useful when designing curriculum. For example, data can help explain in what subject areas improvements need to be made throughout the school and the district.
The second key point illustrates that data obtained through testing can help educators determine the individual needs of students. For example, a teacher can use information gathered from test data to help organize and individualized education plan for an individual student who is struggling in a particular subject area. Finally the article suggests that while interpreting data takes some getting used to, the benefits of the information obtained through the data make it worth the effort.