Hettleman: Maryland schools need more standardized testing of young children, not less

Maryland should require rigorous standardized tests of students starting at the ages of 4 or 5. No kidding. This proposal is sure to shock and enrage many parents and educators. “Too much testing” is already a common criticism of public schools. On top of that, many parents and early childhood practitioners think public schools have already gone too far, too fast in academically “drilling and killing” our youngest schoolchildren.