by KIM HILSENBECK
The Hays CISD Board of Trustees joined more than 300 Texas school districts in adopting two testing-related resolutions at its regular meeting last week.
One denounces the state’s reliance on so-called “high stakes” standardized testing, the other eliminates the requirement that 15 percent of a high school student’s final grade in a class come from the STAAR End of Course exam.
A test is considered “high stakes” if it plays a very important role in deciding whether a student passes a grade or graduates. It may override other information, such as how well a student did in school overall.
The Hays CISD Board of Trustees adopted the high stakes testing resolution asking the state legislature to, in essence, re-examine the public school accountability system in Texas. It calls on the legislature to develop a system that encompasses multiple assessments, reflects greater validity, uses more cost-efficient sampling techniques and uses other external evaluations.
Teachers and school board members in the district were in agreement with the passing of the resolution, according to a prepared statement by district administrators.
Board members also voted to suspend the 15 percent requirement for STAAR End of Course exams to be used to calculate a student’s class grade. While that resolution is in effect for the 2011-12 school year only, some state legislators have indicated a desire to change the provision in the upcoming legislative session.
If no changes are made by the legislature, Texas students will see the 15 percent requirement in the 2012-13 school year.
