New York University will host a panel discussion, “The Big Business of Testing in America,” on Fri., Nov. 22, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at NYU’s Kimmel Center for University Life.
The event is part of NYU’s Steinhardt School for Culture, Education, and Human Development’s Education Policy Breakfast Series, now in its 15th year. The theme of this year’s series is “Testing Today: Assessment to Enhance Learning—Or Just Testing Our Patience?” Subsequent sessions are scheduled for February 21 and April 18, 2014.
The series will examine the history of testing, its benefits and consequences, and consider what policies are best for New York City, New York State, and nation. At the first session on November 22, panelists will consider such questions as: Testing has become a large industry in the U.S., but how much does it really cost? Is that investment helping today’s students? How has testing evolved from the beginnings of student and teacher assessment through the technological advancements of today? What elements of the current approach are working, and what needs to change?
Speakers for “The Big Business of Testing in America” include: Matthew Chingos, a fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Brown Center on Education Policy and author of the recent report, “Standardized Testing and the Common Core Standards: You Get What You Pay For?”; William Reese, Carl F. Kaestle WARF Professor of Educational Policy Studies and History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of Testing Wars in the Public Schools: A Forgotten History (Harvard University Press, 2013); and Sean Corcoran, associate professor of educational economics at NYU Steinhardt, who will moderate the session.
Reporters interested in attending any event must RSVP to James Devitt, NYU’s Office of Public Affairs, at 212.998.6808 or james.devitt@nyu.edu. Space is limited.