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Tell Legislators Not to Repeat Their TAKS Mistakes
It is time to outgrow the illusion that Texas can test and punish its way to academic success in our public schools.
Tell lawmakers to end excessive reliance on standardized state tests and the use of these tests to mismeasure educational performance and to punish rather than support struggling schools.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Don't Repeat TAKS Mistakes!
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
It is time to outgrow the illusion that Texas can test and punish its way to academic success in our public schools. I urge you to end excessive reliance on standardized state tests and the use of these tests to mismeasure educational performance and to punish rather than support struggling schools.
I am concerned that the main testing/accountability bills, HB 3/SB 3, would leave essential flaws of the current system in place. To achieve real reform, here are key changes we need:
--Guarantee that needed resources will be provided in timely fashion before sanctions such as school closure can be imposed. Repeal arbitrary triggers for school shutdowns and mandatory reassignment of principals, teachers, and students.
--Strengthen and enforce the statutory cap on the number of instructional days that can be taken up by benchmark testing, practice tests, and test-taking drill.
--Measure student and school performance with a multi-factor diagnostic assessment system, not a single "snapshot" state test score.
--Instead of inappropriately testing students with disabilities and English Language Learners, use exams that accurately measure their knowledge and skills.
--Require an independent evaluation by impartial experts to gauge whether the new accountability system is likely to work as intended--before it takes effect.
The new accountability model envisioned in HB 3/SB 3 would be the first in the nation to require that students demonstrate "college readiness" (the ability to do well on college-level courses) as a prerequisite for a high-school diploma. But imposing this higher standard on a foundation of "snapshot" testing, punitive sanctions, and inadequate resources will just define more of our schools and students as failures. To help our students and schools succeed, higher standards need to be backed up with supportive interventions, not more tripwires triggering adverse labeling and punitive sanctions.
Sincerely,
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