Advocates say that testing all students is the best way to measure how effective schools are, and that state or local content standards ensure that all students are learning the same curriculum. Supporters also believe that disadvantaged students can be better served by holding their schools accountable when they perform poorly on tests.

Critics say that tests can contain culturally biased content that may be unfamiliar to people from minoritized groups and recent immigrants. Also, for students with learning disabilities or who process information differently, the test itself (be it multiple choice or short answer format) may be unfair. Critics also say that tests do not adequately measure student and school performance, and that judging (and in some cases punishing) schools with low test scores results in even fewer resources for the students who need them most.

Advocates say that developing and administering tests that measure students’ knowledge against learning standards will ensure that all students are capable in key areas.

Critics say that many tests created for use across the entire US may not include content emphasized at the state level, resulting in students being tested on material they have not been taught.