A new poll shows that parents see standardized tests as a helpful way to measure student performance and school quality.
In particular, the poll by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that parents want state tests used to evaluate teachers, and that parents believe it should be easier for schools to fire teachers who perform poorly.
According to the Associated Press:
The polling results are good news for states looking to implement increased accountability standards and for those who want to hold teachers responsible for students' slipping standing against other countries' scores. Teachers' unions have objected to linking educators' evaluations to student performance.