There are benefits of standards tests when they are considered as one part of the "big picture" of a quality school program:

The test results provide an annual "snapshot" of each student's progress in learning basic skills. Parents can easily see what their child is accomplishing from year to year and where they might need some additional instruction or practice. Reviewing test results with your child's teacher is a perfect opportunity to discuss their strengths and weaknesses and how you can help support their learning at home.

Annual testing can help schools and parents catch problems early, before the student experiences failure. When mild problems are detected, and when daily work and other activities confirm the results of testing, schools can provide tutoring, different types of instruction, suggestions for homework, etc. to help the child improve skills. Most children who have difficulty on standards tests do not have disabilities and will not need special education; some may need some extra support to meet expectations.

Schools can use results for individual classrooms and grade levels to identify areas where staff might need additional training or resources. For example, if the reading scores for third grade lag behind results for other grades, teachers might consider setting aside some time to receive training in effective reading instruction or re-examining the third grade reading curriculum.

Districts can use results to identify schools that might need more resources, training, or further evaluation of instruction. For example, if School A's test results show a much slower rate of progress than other neighboring schools, further consideration of the school's resources would be warranted, and perhaps additional reading specialists or intensive training in reading or math instruction can be provided. If the school has a large group of students who have been in the U.S. for less than five years, the district might consider providing additional English Language support services to that school.

Schools and districts can use test results to help evaluate the effectiveness of a particular curriculum or program. For example, by examining test results over a three-year period, schools can evaluate the effectiveness of a new reading curriculum.

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