Standardized testing is a double edged sword. The testing companies often make the tests intentionally difficult, that way they can make billions by selling schools “teach to the test curriculum” knowing that districts are worried about stats on poor performance. However, without standardized tests, schools concentrate only on another stat-- graduation rates-- and push kids through with low standards. So state testing keeps districts honest but the tests themselves need to be appropriate and must be limited so as not to take too much time away from instruction.