Abstract

The use of standardized achievement tests has expanded throughout the school setting, yet clarity is lacking on the form of usage and the conditions under which they are administered. This article presents a study of a low-stakes assessment program implemented in approximately 200 schools in Chile. Based on a qualitative focus, thirty-three interviews were conducted with the directors of schools, school networks, and educational programs that contract such assessments. The results permit a description of the use of standardized tests according to user profiles and the conditions that favor or hinder their usage, revealing the existence of pedagogical and school improvement uses, as well as situations of underutilization. Lastly, the implications for school policy and practices are discussed.