A Challenge....
I have long argued (to anyone who would listen) that until newspapers print a full copy of each standardized test along side the yearly student assessment results, serious discussion about the merits of standardized test scores will never take place. There are just too many people who are willing to accept the word of school officials that the cause for low scores is poorly designed test or questions that test "esoteric" knowledge. There are also far (far) too many people who summon their indignation, clutch their chests, and parrot the phrase "but they teach to the test!" as if the merit and truth of that argument were self-evident (I assure you it's not).
By printing the actual tests next to the test scores, people would have a chance to see for themselves how "off base" these tests are and if they are still capable of summoning such righteous anger in the face of evidence that, if students are learning math or basic reading skills, they are having an awfully hard time proving it.
While my dream of a special week long special section in the Times printing all the full tests has still not yet been realized, Texas does provide all of its state standardized tests online complete with a scoring function (so you can take the test for yourself and see how you would do!), and all the scaled scores. We are heading into the time of year when students will sit for the state's standardized testing, so do the education system (and its students!) a favor and before you open your mouth to opine on the merit of standardized testing, actually go and look at one being used. If it doesn't change your mind, well at least you'll have more ammunition in your next argument.