When I say teaching to the test, I’m talking about focusing on a standardized test. When scores on those tests are the only important thing. Never mind grades. If teachers are teaching (and I’m sure most are doing just that), there is no need to “teach to the test.” When I was teaching school, I taught what was in the curriculum, not my agenda. But, yes, because school boards and administration put so much focus on these test scores, we had to drop everything and focus on “teaching to the test.”
I teach firefighters. Every one has to take a state certification exam, so teaching to the test is my life.
Why was your curriculum not coordinated with the tests? Serious question, since you are experienced in the process.