Test Mania: The History Behind the Public Obsession Over Standardized Tests

Standardized testing is one of the most contentious topics in U.S. education, placing schools under a steadfast academic microscope. Media coverage of high-stakes standardized testing starting with the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation in 2002 placed education assessment in the public discourse. For educators and government leaders to validate standardized testing, the media has been used as a broker to create a myth of failure in America’s schools. The culture of neoliberalism positions testing as a common yardstick for measuring student achievement. However, how did newspapers cover the topic of standardized tests? This episode will offer historical perspectives of education news reporting into the American comprehension of assessment.