A Texas Revolt Against High Stakes Testing
(UPDATED)At the time of this article 100 school districts had passed a resolution saying that high stakes standardized tests are "strangling" public schools. By the end of summer, over 700 Texas school districts would sign the resolution. HISD, after delegations of CVPE parents, teachers and students met with school board members in the spring 2012, signed a watered down version of the resolution.
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March 24, 2012
Weigh on testing!
In an effort to strengthen the voices of those most affected by the culture of standardized testing--students, parents, and teachers--we invite you to respond to our survey on high-stakes testing and to share them with everyone you know.
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March 08, 2012
6 Words: An English Benchmark Test
This week students across HISD are taking long benchmark tests to gauge their readiness for actual TAKS and STAAR testing in April and May. Here are some reflections from high school students after four hours of English benchmark testing.
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March 04, 2012
Pearson estimated to make 1/2 billion dollars on the backs (or Bubbles) of schoolchildren over the next 5 years
Saying high-stakes standardized testing is "strangling our public schools," superintendents of several high-performing North Texas school districts have jointly signed a letter to top state officials and lawmakers warning about the deterioration of the education system. Call it open rebellion against the 25-year-old testing regimen. Wow.
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February 14, 2012
Texas Education Agency Commissioner states that testing has gone too far.
Our children do not need to be guinea pigs for the STAAR exam. The tests were not written by educators, and there are no study guides developed since the state did not allocate any funding for this purpose. There is not even any direction from the state regarding the rule that stipulates that the exam count 15% of a high school students' grade. Are we really asking our children to take a test blind?
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February 06, 2012
On the Effects of Poverty on Education
No Child Left Behind required all schools to bring all students to high levels of achievement but took no note of the challenges that disadvantaged students face.
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January 12, 2012
On HISD Shortchanging Poor Students
HISD reported having 11 schools that don’t receive Title I funds and 252 schools that do. According to the Department of Education, HISD spends 19 percent less per student on its Title I schools.
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January 05, 2012