According to Schools Use Software Programs To Prepare Students for Tests, schools are increasing using regular computerized testing (“ongoing assessment”) as part of their curriculum, in response to mandated standardized tests (with consequences):
Some educators worry that such frequent monitoring of progress toward test goals raises the risk that schools will focus on “teaching to the test” at the expense of other important lessons. “What has happened is you see the testing tail wagging the curriculum dog,” says Alex Molnar, an education professor at Arizona State University in Tempe.
No one should be the least bit surprised that schools would teach to the test; that’s what a test is for. The problem only arises when teaching to the test means that student’s aren’t learning the material they’re supposed to be learning — in other words, when the test isn’t well-designed.