What term describes the influence of state-mandated assessments on teaching practices?

The term that describes the influence of state-mandated assessments on teaching practices is "washback." This concept refers to the effect that assessments have on teaching and learning processes. Specifically, washback can dictate what and how educators teach, often shaping the curriculum to align with the requirements of standardized tests. When high stakes assessments are introduced, teachers might focus more on test preparation strategies, potentially prioritizing test-related skills over broader educational goals.

In this context, washback highlights the important relationship between assessment and educational practices, illustrating how testing can drive instructional decisions and student learning experiences. This concept can drive significant changes in curriculum design, pedagogical approaches, and even assessment of student performance in classrooms.

The other options relate to assessment and evaluation but do not capture the specific interplay between testing and teaching. Benchmarking involves comparing performance against standards or peers, reliability refers to the consistency of a measurement in assessments, and norming involves establishing a baseline or average for comparing test scores across different populations. These terms are relevant to evaluations and assessments but do not specifically address the influence assessments have on teaching practices as effectively as washback does.