ABSTRACT
Federal law mandates that all public schools and students participate in the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) testing activities—a requirement that has proven to be problematic for the K–12 system. Our higher education sector is a complex, bottom-up, highly diverse system of colleges and universities. A mandatory testing requirement would be a disaster. Is there a possibility that such a mandatory testing requirement for postsecondary education will be required by federal or state mandates? If assessment in postsecondary education should remain voluntary, who will provide these assessments, and can they ensure validity? How involved should faculty be in developing these assessments? Should these assessments stand on their own or be used in conjunction with other metrics? How can these standardized assessments include all subject matters? What role will these assessments play in federal mandates and policy?
