Office of Assessment Policy, Development and Administration
(APDA) develops and administers tests that are aligned with the
New York State Learning Standards and Core Curriculum, are
consistent with State and federal mandates, are statistically
and psychometrically sound, and yield valuable information that
enables the State Education Department to hold schools
accountable for the education of all students. Children Should
Not Be a Number If the purpose of the State Standardized Test is
to “hold schools accountable” why is it that our children bear
the brunt of the accountability process? If it is schools, or
school districts, or teachers, or school administrators that are
to be evaluated, why not make them take the standardized tests
instead of wasting the valuable learning time of our children?
Why not make these entities sit for hours taking mock tests,
practice tests, benchmark tests, and pre-test tests in order to
increase their test taking stamina? According to educational
research, children require rea