No Educator Left Behind is a series providing answers from the U.S. Department of Education to questions about the federal No Child Left Behind Act and how it will affect educators. If you have a question about No Child Left Behind, send an e-mail to Ellen Delisio, and we will submit your question to the Department of Education.

Question:

What effect does high-stakes testing have on children?

U.S. Department of Education:

Although testing may be stressful for some students, testing is a normal and expected way of assessing what students have learned. The purpose of state assessments required under the No Child Left Behind Act is to provide an independent insight into each child's progress, as well as each school's. This information is essential for parents, schools, districts, and states in their efforts to ensure that no child -- regardless of race, ethnic group, gender, or family income -- is trapped in a consistently low-performing school.

Read previous questions and answers in our No Educator Left Behind archive.