TIME TO ADVANCE, NOT RETREAT FROM ACCOUNTABILITY
Hammond: “It’s a Matter of Civil Rights; Public School Accountability Delivers Significant Positive Progress for Minority Students”
Hammond: “It’s a Matter of Civil Rights; Public School Accountability Delivers Significant Positive Progress for Minority Students”
AUSTIN, TX—As a Texas House committee convenes to discuss implementation of the state’s new assessment system for public schools, the Texas Association of Business (TAB) made clear in a letter to lawmakers that “It’s time to advance, not retreat from proven, effective accountability measures established with broad-based, bipartisan support from the Texas Legislature.”
Bill Hammond, President and CEO of TAB, called the state’s accountability system “a civil rights concern,” noting the substantial progress in minority student achievement under Texas’ public education accountability and testing system.
“As the state celebrates Juneteenth, there’s more than a little tragic irony that its Texas’ African American and Hispanic students who stand to lose the most if education bureaucrats and their allies are successful in their roll back or abandonment of the state’s STAAR accountability measures for Texas public schools,” said Hammond
“We need every child to succeed,” added Hammond. “What we’re witnessing today is a full frontal assault on the progress made in improving Texas’ public education system, especially for minorities. Doing away with a system of statewide accountability for our public schools is morally bankrupt.”
Hammond pointed to National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) data that shows Texas’ African American and Hispanic students are achieving over three grade levels higher in math then where they were in 1992 when public school accountability and testing measures were first introduced.
“Across the board, Texas’ 4th and 8th grade students – African Americans, Hispanics and whites – have all made significant progress in math, outpacing national averages. Testing results show progress in 4th and 8th grade reading, as well,” said Hammond.
The business community views the state’s public education accountability system as more than a test, noting the critical importance of improving career and college readiness in order to maintain economic prosperity, job creation and quality of live in the state of Texas.
“At stake is the Texas workforce, one that is sufficient in both size and quality to meet the long-term needs of business,” said Hammond. “We need to be extending, not eliminating, public school accountability. The STAAR accountability system would extend the progress made in lower grade levels through high school.”
In addition to providing a more rigorous education and accountability system, STAAR end-of-course exams would actually reduce the cost and administrative burdens associated with additional state-mandated testing by allowing for end-of-course exams to be administered as finals.
“Time and again, critics – including entrenched bureaucrats – cry out that testing and accountability costs too much and does little to improve student performance and knowledge,” said Hammond. “To the contrary, the state’s accountability system since its inception in the early 1990's has produced substantial, positive progress. They are a cost-effective, scientifically proven tool to assure students, parents and taxpayers that Texas public schools are equipping students with the essential skills and knowledge to ensure career and college-readiness.”
TAB has sent a letter to all state lawmakers on this subject. You may read it here.
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