Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 23, 1990                   TAG: 9005230642
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/9   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

COMMISSION WANTS TO LIMIT STANDARD TESTS

The National Commission on Testing and Public Policy released a highly critical study of standardized, multiple-choice tests and called for a restructuring of educational and employment testing so that the talents of all Americans are promoted.

"We recognize that in the past some tests have been a positive force for numerous individuals and institutions," the report said.

"However, the growing over-reliance on testing over the past several decades deprives the nation of much of the talent it needs and sometimes conflicts with the nation's ideals of fairness and equal opportunity," it said.

Commission Director George Madaus said the main message is to "move away from a single test score to select people, the way we've been using them, to open doors, to identify talent and to help nurture talent."

The commission report, "From Gatekeeper to Gateway: Transforming Testing in America," is based on a three-year study of more than 75 reports by scholars as well as hearings across the country.

From 1972-85, the number of state standardized testing programs grew from one to 34. This year, every state in the nation has a mandated testing program.

The study said standardized test scores often are the single barrier keeping promising students out of schools and competent employees from obtaining jobs or promotions.

According to the study, tests may be misleading indicators of performance and scores can be affected by numerous outside factors, such as anxiety, noise level of the testing environment and test-taking habits. Also all tests are to some extent culturally dependent and almost always reflect the dominant or national culture in both form and content.