Performance targets

Definition

Performance targets are specific goals set for students, schools, or districts that define expected levels of achievement in academic performance. These targets are often tied to standardized assessments and are used to measure progress and accountability within educational systems, particularly under policies emphasizing high-stakes testing.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Performance targets were introduced as part of the No Child Left Behind Act to ensure that all students reach proficiency in core subjects by specified deadlines.
2. These targets often create pressure on schools to improve test scores, sometimes leading to teaching practices focused primarily on test preparation.
3. Schools that fail to meet performance targets may face sanctions, including loss of funding or restructuring, which can impact their resources and operations.
4. Performance targets must be regularly reviewed and adjusted to reflect changing educational standards and student needs.
5. Critics argue that rigid performance targets can narrow the curriculum and undermine holistic education by emphasizing only measurable outcomes.

Review Questions

• How do performance targets influence teaching methods and curriculum design in schools?
  • Performance targets significantly influence teaching methods as educators often align their instruction with the specific skills and knowledge assessed by standardized tests. This can lead to a narrowed curriculum focused primarily on test preparation, which may limit opportunities for creative teaching and comprehensive education. While some argue that this alignment helps raise academic standards, others raise concerns about the quality of education being sacrificed in favor of achieving these performance metrics.
• Evaluate the impact of performance targets on school accountability measures under the No Child Left Behind Act.
  • Performance targets established under the No Child Left Behind Act play a crucial role in school accountability by setting clear benchmarks for student achievement. Schools must demonstrate progress towards these targets to avoid penalties or sanctions, which creates a sense of urgency to improve outcomes. However, this system has led to debates about whether the focus on meeting performance targets results in meaningful educational improvement or merely incentivizes teaching to the test.
• Analyze the potential consequences of high-stakes testing and performance targets on educational equity.
  • High-stakes testing and performance targets can exacerbate educational inequities by placing undue pressure on schools serving disadvantaged populations. When schools are held accountable primarily through these metrics, they may struggle with limited resources and support, leading to challenges in meeting targets. Additionally, focusing on standardized assessments can overlook diverse learning styles and needs, potentially widening achievement gaps between different demographic groups. Therefore, while performance targets aim to elevate academic standards, they can inadvertently contribute to systemic inequalities within education.

Related terms

Accountability: The principle that schools and educators are responsible for ensuring that students meet specific educational standards and performance expectations.

Standardized Testing: Tests administered and scored in a consistent manner, designed to measure students' academic performance against uniform criteria.

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP): A measurement defined by the No Child Left Behind Act that evaluates school performance based on students' standardized test scores and other factors.