"Developing a fair, practical, and effective teacher evaluation system is like climbing a high mountain: it’s impossible until someone finds a route. That’s what Rick does in this book. He identifies the immense challenges associated with using evidence on student learning as the principal criteria in teacher evaluation and then offers practical guidance for overcoming those challenges. He hasn’t made the climb easy, but he shows us the way."

Thomas R. Guskey, Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Kentucky

"For the last several decades, no one in America—certainly no member of the educational measurement community—has more effectively described how classroom assessments can contribute to students’ learning. Happily, Stiggins has now brought his experience-honed view of classroom testing to the appraisal of teachers’ instructional skills. For all teachers and administrators, this is requisite reading!"

W. James Popham, Emeritus Professor, UCLA, Author of Evaluating America's Teachers

"Rick Stiggins thoroughly describes the problems associated with current efforts to institute test-based teacher evaluation. He describes how quality classroom assessments can be woven into the teacher evaluation equation in ways that better illustrate teachers’ impact on student learning. Stiggins builds a compelling case for the development of a solid foundation of assessment competence throughout our educational system."

Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education, Stanford University

"Stiggins helps us to understand what a travesty this misuse of standardized tests really is. He calls for a thoughtful approach to assessment that furthers the professionalization of teaching and the humanity of learning. This requires actually seeing teachers and students as people, not widgets. It’s not the message the profiteers want to hear about schools, but the right message for our children."

Stephen Uebbing, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, University of Rochester

In this concise, compelling, and readable book, Rick Stiggins explains clearly the extraordinary damage that has been done to America's youth by the belief that standardized testing is the only, or even the best, way to find out what students have learned. He also shows how more appropriate assessment , in which learners play a leading role, has the power to transform American education. Anyone interested in what is wrong with education in America today—and what we can do about it—should read this book.

Dylan Wiliam, Emeritus Professor of Educational Assessment, Institute of Education, University of London

"Every once and awhile a book appears that is so honest, so sensible, and so impassioned that it must not be ignored. This is such a book, and it will make many education policy makers and assessment experts wince. Stiggins decries the damage done by poorly designed tests and thoughtless assessment practice. Thankfully, he doesn't stop with an indictment. Drawing on a half century of experience, Stiggins offers practical advice on how sound assessment practice can benefit all students."

Dan Duke, Professor of Educational Leadership, University of Virginia

It was more appropriate for administrators than for classroom educators.

Professor Marcia Kessler, Middle and High School Programs, Lesley University