How can the results of standardized testing and language proficiency tests be used to monitor student progress

Question

How can the results of standardized testing and language proficiency tests be used to monitor student progress

Answer 1

They shouldn't.  All aspects of education are becoming too reliant on these tests.  They are poor measures of future success and what an individual really knows. Use multiple measures, authentic assessments and get to know your students.

Answer 2

very carefully.  how well the results can be used to monitor progress depends on whether or not the test can give a true 'pre-test/post-test'  view, as this would allow teachers and adults to measure apples to apples.  If you are talking specifically about state group tests, the goals change from year to year, so it's hard to measure growth since you aren't measuring the same tasks.  On individual standardized tests, I still don't like it to measure annual progress because most tests aren't really made to be used that way.  They offer a limited range of skills to be assessed, and it certainly misses other areas of instruction that have been taught during the year.  That actually goes for all standardized tests.