A survey of standardized testing and authentic assessment in residential psychiatric facility schools

This study examines the role of standardized tests and authentic assessment in residential psychiatric facility schools. One hundred residential psychiatric facility in-house schools in thirty-eight states received a survey concerning the school's demographics and opinions on educational testing and assessment. Based upon the information received by the 41% of returned surveys, the answers to the research questions are as follows:

1. Authentic assessment is being used by 54% of the responding residential psychiatric facility schools.
2. Based upon the opinions expressed by the survey responses, less than twenty-five percent of those responding perceive student opportunities being prohibited by standardized tests as the students transition into a public school.
3. According to the responses gathered by this survey, educators are interested in authentic assessment. Yet, educators express concerns about authentic assessment and their lack of knowledge and understanding of its application.