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Exploring The Path That Has Led To A Fragmented Curriculum, Driven By High Stakes Testing, Sidelining Science, Emily L. Flaherty
Exploring The Path That Has Led To A Fragmented Curriculum, Driven By High Stakes Testing, Sidelining Science, Emily L. Flaherty
Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection
This paper explores the current state of science instruction in classrooms, particularly concerning the fragmented curriculum resulting from high-stakes testing and the subsequent side-lining of science education. The study examines the historical context, starting with the implementation of standardized tests such as MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) in 1998 and the subsequent impact of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001. These reforms led to a punitive system for underachieving schools and a narrowing of instructional time for subjects other than math and English Language Arts (ELA). The focus on improving test scores resulted in limited time allocated for …