| This study examines the perceptions of superintendents and school board members inPennsylvania with regard to state academic standards and standardized tests. From a universe of 501 Pennsylvania districts, we selected a sample of 51 districts (approximately 10%) at random. We sent surveys to superintendents, school board chairpersons, and three additional school board members from each district. Thirty-one of the 51 superintendents completed surveys for a 61% rate of return. For school board members, 76 of the 204 surveyed completed surveys for a 37% rate of return. Results of the survey show that although superintendents and school board members view standards and testing in similar ways, they differ with regard to their knowledge of standards, the ideological position they take with regard to testing, and the degree to which they believe testing has been implemented in their districts. In addition, school board members and superintendents perceive that the most influential groups in the standards-setting process are administrators, teachers, and parents. |