One of the most adamant critics of the Texas legislation to reduce the number of tests that students must take to graduate happens to own franchises for Sylvan Learning Centers, which offer test preparation and tutoring.
Was it a conflict of interest? No, he said, everybody votes on things that affect their self-interest.
He was just concerned about keeping standards high.
In Texas, that is known as “bidness as usual.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Current discussion is that the only state tests to count toward graduation in Texas will be those taken at the sophomore and freshman level. As a Texas high school science teacher of upper classmen, I find this abhorrent….we need something to hold over their heads to create a sense of urgency to do well until they are graduated and out the door. Some students just do not strive for excellence without the dreaded test to motivate them. I want an end of course Chemistry test, Physics test, and similar test for any senior science offered. New York state has had end of course high school science (math, history, and English, as well) tests forever….since I was in high school there in the late 60’s. In Texas we waste a whole heck of a lot of money on reinventing the state tests every few years….TAAS, TAKS, and now STAAR. A good, solid end of course test per subject is all you need with science updates annually as needed for the latest scientific discoveries.
Terri,
Please, pretty please with sugar on it and a cherry on top, read Noel Wilson’s “Educational Standards and the Problem of Error” found at:
http://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/view/577/700 to understand the errors involved in processes of developing educational standards, standardized testing and even the “grading” of students that render said process completely invalid so that any conclusions drawn from it are, as Wilson states, “vain and illusory”.
Using tests as a threat to hold over a student’s head is mind boggling absurd and unethical once you understand why the whole process is invalid. If a student needs a test to motivate them then you need to be talking with the student as to why that is an absurd way of thinking and living. Using fear as a pedagogical tool is disgusting.
We need to do testing right in Texas, as a diagnostic tool. And, yes, we picked some of the wrong tests. Terrible awful mistakes with HB 5. Also… Sylvan is a conflict for Mark Strama? Really? The only one who has a conflict these days is the former education commissioner, who makes his money traveling the country railing against Common Core and state testing.
And, Duane, the tests should exist in Texas. Absolutely. With limited stakes. Because we can’t guarantee that Algebra in Lufkin is the same as Algebra in Lubbock. Nor are teachers necessarily aware of college-level rigor. The goal is to hold our schools accountable so we can minimize the massive amount of remediation we do in college.
Kimberly,
Please read the aforementioned work and when you understand what Wilson says get back to me.
Or for a shorter read on the testing “Bible”* and the concurrent invalidities involved read Wilson’s essay review “A Little Less than Valid: An Essay Review” found at: http://www.edrev.info/essays/v10n5.pdf .
“Because . . . is the same . . . in Lubbock.” I’m not quite sure why Algebra would be different in one school versus another. And, pray tell, who has determined that everything must be standardized. Do you go to a McD’s for a gourmet meal?
“Nor are teachers necessarily aware of college-level rigor.” A false statement on face value. It seems to me that the vast majority of teachers have completed an undergrad (and many a post grad) degree and are quite aware of the differences between the elementary and secondary levels versus the post secondary level. And allow me to quote another poster on the word “rigor” (you know like rigor mortis for example):
jim
March 30, 2013 at 2:37 pm
Here are some definitions of rigor. Is this what our kids’ education should br? Main Entry: rig·or Pronunciation: \ˈri-gər\Function: nounEtymology: Middle English rigour, from Anglo-French, from Latin rigor, literally, stiffness, from rigēre to be stiffDate: 14th century1 a (1) : harsh inflexibility in opinion, temper, or judgment : severity (2) : the quality of being unyielding or inflexible : strictness (3) : severity of life : austerity b : an act or instance of strictness, severity, or cruelty 2 : a tremor caused by a chill 3 : a condition that makes life difficult, challenging, or uncomfortable ; especially :extremity of cold 4 : strict precision : exactness 5 a obsolete : rigidity, stiffness
Is that what you mean by “college level rigor”? Pure reformista excrement of a bovine origin propaganda.
“The goal is to hold our schools accountable so we can minimize the massive amount of remediation we do in college.” Maybe if the colleges wouldn’t admit those who supposedly need remediation the remediation problem would be solved. Simple solution, eh? But the colleges and universities continue to admit them (wouldn’t help their bottom line now would it?) so it is their problem not ours at the secondary level. Again the “hold schools accountable” rheephormista nonsense by those who have no clue as to the purpose of universal public schools. Do you even know where to find what the purpose of public education is? Let me give you a clue, look in your state constitution.
You’ve got some reading to do so I won’t bother you anymore.
Duane
*American Educational Research Association; American Education Psychological Association; National Council on Measurement in
Education. (2002). “Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing”. Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association. ISBN 0-935302-25-5
One more comment. “With limited stakes”. Again, Using fear as a pedagogical tool is disgusting and in my mind UNETHICAL.