About this episode

This episode discusses the unintended consequences of high stakes testing on middle school science education and offers strategies for improvement.

I was recently reading the May-June, 2026 issue of "Science Scope" a publication from the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the Leadership Matters column written by Amy Bekins. It was entitled "The Unintentional Consequences of High Stakes Testing on Middle School Science." Some ways that leaders can build science efficacy and increase achievement for all contents is to: 1. Incorporate more nonfiction texts. 2. Conduct experiments where students can practice mathematics skills, such as graphing, with real data. 3. Leverage each teachers' content expertise through cross content teams and projects. 4. Encourage science to be an integral part of the curriculum.

Topics covered

• high stakes testing
• middle school science
• science education
• curriculum development
• student achievement

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