[RecycledEle]

As a teacher, I agree that we should grade schools on student growth.

Give the kids 3 standards referenced tests a year; one is referenced to the school district, one to the state, and one to the nation. Give all 3 exams in a week when they do nothing else. This gives us better test results than a single exam on a single day.

[otoburb]

In the state of New York, I believe during COVID our state tests became optional. In order for your idea to work, standards referenced tests would need to be coordinated _and mandated_ across three levels of government (sometimes a 4th municipal because NYC has sway over most of their own schools granted by the governor).

Because the state tests are now optional they are less influential as inputs for future years (almost by definition), and/or alterantive pathways and rubrics must (and are) provided which further dilute their effectiveness.

It's a tricky and complicated situation, and obviously school districts, states and even the federal government are all trying out different ideas.