Educationchiefsaysstatecan'tbackoff

[kceh@AIRMAIL.NET]

What a horrible time to be a third grader in Texas public schools.
You know, perhaps we all should write Alanis and Bivins and ask
them to take an age-appropriate standardized test, tie their job
security to the results and let *us* set the stinking cut scores.

The state BOE knows less about test development than I do for the
most part, which I'm willing to betcha is the reason they are given the
task of setting the "standard." Let the elected people take the flak for
the bad decisions the appointed ones make(yes, Amarillo votes for
Bivins but he is appointed to the education committee, I think, have to
check that one).

Excuse me while I go vomit...

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HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section:
Local & State


Nov. 13, 2002, 11:45PM

2 lawmakers push tougher TAKS test

Educationchiefsaysstatecan'tbackoff
Associated Press


AUSTIN -- Texas Education Commissioner Felipe Alanis and two key
lawmakers were among those Wednesday who stood by the state's
decision to use a tougher standardized test this school year.

Alanis, state Sen. Teel Bivins and Rep. Kent Grusendorf told a
meeting of the Texas Business and Education Coalition that the more
difficult test is the necessary next step in improving the state's
education system despite fears that there will be too many failures.

Some critics have proposed postponing the test until students have
more time to prepare for it.

"I urge you to stay the course," said Bivins, the Amarillo Republican
who chairs the Senate Education Committee.

"We're continuing to move this. We can't stay still," agreed Grusendorf,
R-Arlington.

The State Board of Education today will decide how to grade the new
Texas Assessment for Knowledge and Skill, which will be given for
the first time this spring. It will be used to determine whether third-
graders pass and whether high school students graduate.

Earlier this week, some board members expressed concern about
Texas Education Agency projections that show 1 out of 4 third-graders
would fail the test unless the board gives pupils more time to adjust to
the more difficult exam.

Alanis has recommended that the board do exactly that by grading the
test more easily this year and next.

"The worst thing that could happen would be to shock the system,"
Alanis said after speaking to the group of business and education
leaders.

Alanis agreed with the lawmakers that Texas is doing the right thing
by continuing to increase education expectations. Texas students
have consistently done better under the accountability system, which
is based on a state-approved curriculum.

The passing rate is especially important for third-graders because
beginning this school year they must pass the reading portion of the
test to advance to the fourth grade.

The most difficult scenario under Alanis' proposal would mean third-
graders would immediately have to answer 24 out of 36 questions
correctly on the reading test to earn a passing score. An estimated
65,000 of the state's 280,000 third-graders would fail under that rate.

Alanis is recommending that the education board adopt a phase-in
program in which third-graders would have to answer 20 out of 36
reading questions correct to pass this year, and 22 out of 36 right next
year.

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HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section:
Local & State
This article is: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/metropolitan/
1661354

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