Wendy Davis is running for Governor of Texas. She is going after the testing industry, which spends big-time for lobbyists to make sure that no child is left untested, even children in pre-school.
From: Wendy Davis for Governor
Date: April 22, 2014 at 8:34:08 AM
Subject: Davis Campaign Files Open Records Request on Abbott and Testing Industry
Reply-To: press@wendydavistexas.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2014
Contact: Rebecca Acuña: (956) 206-5853
Wendy R. Davis for Governor Campaign
Davis Campaign Files Open Records Request on Abbott and Testing Industry
“Greg Abbott’s so-called education plan is nothing but a big wet kiss to Texas’ standardized testing industry,” said communications director Zac Petkanas.
Fort Worth, TX: Greg Abbott’s education plan calls for imposing high-stakes standardized tests onto four year olds in pre-K and ties those test results to education funding. The Wendy Davis Campaign yesterday filed an open records request seeking any communication between the Office of the Attorney General and companies tied to the standardized testing industry.
The open records request asked for the prompt production of the following information (regardless of physical form and including but not limited to invoices, receipts, billing statements, e-mails, letters, memoranda, agendas, calendars, schedules, faxes, fax cover sheets, phone calls, phone messages, etc..) held by the Office of the Attorney General:
1. Any and all communications between Attorney General Greg Abbott and /or the Office of the Attorney General and agents NCS Pearson, Inc., Pearson, Inc. or Pearson Education
2. Any and all TPIA requests and responsive documents mentioning “NCS Pearson, Inc.”, “Pearson, Inc.”, or “Pearson Education” since January 2013.”
“Greg Abbott’s so-called education plan is nothing but a big wet kiss to Texas’ standardized testing industry,” said communications director Zac Petkanas. “His plan imposes standardized tests onto four year olds in order to pick and choose who gets access to a quality education and who does not. In the interest of transparency, Greg Abbott should make all communication between his office and representatives of the standardized testing industry public. Texans deserve to know how the testing industry is influencing Greg Abbott’s controversial pre-k plan.”
Here’s what the Texas press corps has said about Greg Abbott’s plan to impose standardized testing onto 4 year olds:
“The $118 million Abbott plan calls for lawmakers to require school districts with preK programs to administer assessments at the beginning and end of the school year in an effort to measure the quality of such programs. One of those assessments referenced in Abbott’s plan is standardized testing.” –Corpus Christi Caller-Times
“One of the candidates’ biggest slug-fests over Pre-K has focused on Abbott’s call for assessing what these four-year olds have learned and how that would be done. A paragraph in Abbott’s 22- page plan says standardized testing is one way of doing that.” — KERA
“Abbott also proposes that school districts meet a “gold standard” as an incentive for funding. That involves measurement, which is another way of saying testing” – Corpus Christi Caller-Times
“That would include testing and other measurements to ensure that instruction in those classes is effective.” –Dallas Morning News
“Sabo also cautioned against placing too much emphasis on testing for such young children.’ The last thing Texas needs is Baby STAAR.'”– Austin American Statesman
“Districts being funded by the state would also be required to test each pre-K student for benchmarks.” – Texas Public Radio
“Abbott’s plan would grant an additional $1500 per pre-k student in districts that agree to meet new “gold” standards, a determination that would be made through testing and other assessments.” – KUT
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Go, Wendy, Go!
Wendy Davis is a smart and tough Texan, just like Diane Ravitch!
I desperately want a good, serious candidate to challenge Cuomo on these grounds in the NY primary….
For God’s sake, get somebody! A “serious” candidate doesn’t have to be somebody the media say can win; look at De Blasio.
Carol Burris has been tweeting that everybody is afraid of Cuomo, so nobody in “his” party will challenge him. It’s not his party, duh. Go get her somebody to endorse.
Fear based decision making is the downfall of many. Cuomo doesnt even qualify for DINO status.
Hes really a fourth part candiate running as a Plutocrat (or is it a Cuomocrat?)
Me, too!
Awesome
What’s next, the Pearson Intrauterine Test of Life Readiness Skills for fetuses?
It’s time we started holding those fetuses accountable.
Love your comment, Bob. No kidding…Pearson would indeed test fetuses and make the family or some other agency pay for the testing,
I have come to the conclusion that there is nothing that some of these companies would not do if it would increase revenues by the tiniest bit during the coming quarter. Absolutely nothing, no matter how damaging to children.
I have family in Texas working hard to elect her governor, but they’re stone broke. I just shot her a $100 kiss from them, when I saw this.
awesome
As a first year principal (1988) I found myself questioning a practice on testing at my campus. I was relatively inexperienced in early education, but my instincts said something was wrong with giving the ITBS to kindergartners. The teachers expressed some concerns as well, but it was a well established practice.
I decided to help administer the tests so I could see for myself how it affected kids. What I saw and heard stunned me! To say the least, most of the kids were having more than a difficult time just with the procedures. That’s not what stopped dead in my tracks though, it was the frustrated crying of some the children and the comments they said to the adults in the room. I was determined at that point that we would not treat children in this manner ever again.
A five year old child almost always enters school full of energy and with the belief that they are smart and can do anything. Some of these children looked up at me and said, “I’m dumb, I can’t do this.”
Nothing in a five year old’s life prepares them to function in the atmosphere of standardized testing: sitting still for long periods of time, following along as the teacher reads, picking the “best” answer (really?), constantly being asked questions that they have no background experience from which to draw from, and many many more requirements.
There are so many assessments I can’t even begin to list the appropriate types that are available. So why a standardized test? One answer and one answer only, to pad the profits of Pearson. NOTHING, ANYWHERE, says this is an effective way to assess progress in young children.
Wonder how much cutting the number of tests in Texas has to do with this kind of proposal? Is Pearson trying to restore lost business?
Can anyone say “child abuse”?
Don’t Mess With Wendy!
Greg Abbott and his best friend, Pearson lobbyist and Texas Business Association CEO, Bill Hammond, should be required to take all the Pearson STAAR test and have their scores published. It is doubtful that either would be promoted to 4 th grade.
GO WENDY !!!
No way Wendy will ever win here in Texas. We don’t like baby killers down here and her chances are pretty slim. I am not fond of Abbott’s position on TX education but during elections, sometimes a voter has to prioritize one’s morals v. political agenda. I will take my chances protesting Abbott’s legislation rather than letting a liberal like Davis get her foot in the door.
Go Wendy! I am only concerned what she can accomplish with the Republicans in control of the House and the Senate. I hope she can at least slow down some of the madness. This year the 5th grade passing standards for STAAR were supposed to bump up but they didn’t. Nonetheless, children did not pass and they will now get 10 days in intense tutoring and a second try at the test. No matter what, they will all move on to 6th grade — just beat up and bruised by the STAAR in the process.