As already indicated, many state exams have consequences for students, teachers, and schools. Student promotion and graduation are often tied to these exams. Further, many states now base at least a portion of school funding on student test performance.

Effect on Students

Standardized testing in and of itself is not a bad idea. It is definitely better to reward someone for their merit as opposed to their personal connections. However, high-stakes testing can have unforeseen consequences for students, especially at elementary levels. For one thing, high-stakes standardized testing must be based on the body of knowledge students actually learn in order to be valid. Unfortunately, even the best tests require that students spend extra time on test preparation — which means less time spent on learning. In the elementary grades, where many students are still learning foundational knowledge that they will need through the rest of their school years, time spent on preparing for tests that do not mirror the curriculum is time wasted.

Beyond the fact that students might be missing important instruction to prepare for high-stakes tests, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds often score lower on standardized tests. This could be because of the level of education they are receiving, the amount of time they spend practicing, or even test bias. The belief among opponents of high-stakes testing is that the pressure of these types of tests can be harmful to these and other disadvantaged students.

According to a study by the National Board on Educational Testing and Public Policy (NBETPP), two of the negative effects of standardized tests on students include test-related stress and unfairness to special populations. On the flip side, some individuals in the poll cited an increase in student motivation and an overall increase in the quality of education.

The effects of testing on students are hard to measure because students have their own individual attitudes toward tests. Obviously, students with test anxiety or other test-taking difficulties will have the hardest time with these types of assessments.

Effect on Schools

In many states, schools are also heavily affected by the results of standardized testing. For example, in Florida, elementary, middle, and high schools are given a grade on a scale from A to F. The school's grade is based on many standards, including how its students achieved and improved on the FCAT. Schools that achieve high grades earn financial rewards.

Additionally, when a school first earns an F, it gets increased state aid. However, if the school continues to receive low grades, the state may intervene. One of the effects of this intervention is to provide students with vouchers called Opportunity Scholarships. Through this program, affected students can choose to attend higher-performing public schools.

Obviously, the stakes in this type of atmosphere make high achievement on the FCAT a top priority. Many elementary schools have instituted required FCAT practice times in all classes, closed campuses during testing weeks, and provided pizza parties or other rewards once the testing is complete. Students are given lectures by their teachers on the importance of tests. And free breakfast is provided in many schools to ensure that hunger will not affect test results.