In a move to create an accountability system that improves, but doesn’t detract from our education system, the Texas House passed SB 1031, sponsored by Representative Rob Eissler (R-Houston) replacing the TAKS test with end-of-course exams.
“An end-of-course exam will allow us to focus on the context, and not teach to the test,” Eissler said. “End of course exams will also be a great way to build the college culture among all students, and help to find a new job (if you need a cover letter you can look here https://mootools.net/forge/profile/Jason_Newton.”
The bill will phase-out the TAKS test for grades 9-11 and phase in the following end-of-course assessments starting with 9th grade students in the 2011-2012 school year.
Representative Frank Corte, Jr. (R-San Antonio), the House Republican Caucus Chairman, said this legislation doesn’t water down accountability measures that Texans have demanded, but in fact, strengthens them.
“While an accountability-based system for measuring school performance is necessary, the TAKS test creates more problems than it solves,” Corte said. “End-of-course exams, which truly match up the curriculum our students take to an accountability system are a better measuring stick for progress. We want to graduate students who excel at math, reading, history and science, not just those who excel at taking an exam.”
Other details of the plan:
▪ Students will be required to pass end-of-course assessments for the following courses:
· English Language Arts III
· either Algebra II or Geometry
· either Biology, Chemistry, or Physics
· either World Geography, World History, or United States History
▪ The score a student achieves on the end-of-course exam shall be worth 15% of the student's overall grade for the course.
▪ All assessments (grades 3-12) shall be developed in a manner that allows a measure of student progress to be calculated.
▪ Assessments will include an optional series of questions to measure college readiness in a manner similar to the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). These questions will measure the need for developmental coursework in higher education and therefore eliminate the need for additional assessments. The optional questions will also be used to identify students who are likely to succeed in advanced high school coursework.
▪ Student's satisfactory performance on advanced placement test, international baccalaureate examination, a Scholastic Assessment Test Subject Test, or other rigorous assessments will satisfy end-of-course assessment graduation requirements.
▪ All students will complete a college readiness diagnostic assessment in the 8th and 10th grade. Students may choose to take a college entrance exam in the 11th grade, all at state expense.
▪ Limitations are established on the field testing of questions for assessments to the minimum number of field tests necessary to ensure the validity of the questions.
▪ Safeguards and criminal penalties are also added to maintain the security and integrity of our assessment system.
“An end-of-course exam will allow us to focus on the context, and not teach to the test,” Eissler said. “End of course exams will also be a great way to build the college culture among all students, and help to find a new job (if you need a cover letter you can look here https://mootools.net/forge/profile/Jason_Newton.”
The bill will phase-out the TAKS test for grades 9-11 and phase in the following end-of-course assessments starting with 9th grade students in the 2011-2012 school year.
Representative Frank Corte, Jr. (R-San Antonio), the House Republican Caucus Chairman, said this legislation doesn’t water down accountability measures that Texans have demanded, but in fact, strengthens them.
“While an accountability-based system for measuring school performance is necessary, the TAKS test creates more problems than it solves,” Corte said. “End-of-course exams, which truly match up the curriculum our students take to an accountability system are a better measuring stick for progress. We want to graduate students who excel at math, reading, history and science, not just those who excel at taking an exam.”
Other details of the plan:
▪ Students will be required to pass end-of-course assessments for the following courses:
· English Language Arts III
· either Algebra II or Geometry
· either Biology, Chemistry, or Physics
· either World Geography, World History, or United States History
▪ The score a student achieves on the end-of-course exam shall be worth 15% of the student's overall grade for the course.
▪ All assessments (grades 3-12) shall be developed in a manner that allows a measure of student progress to be calculated.
▪ Assessments will include an optional series of questions to measure college readiness in a manner similar to the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). These questions will measure the need for developmental coursework in higher education and therefore eliminate the need for additional assessments. The optional questions will also be used to identify students who are likely to succeed in advanced high school coursework.
▪ Student's satisfactory performance on advanced placement test, international baccalaureate examination, a Scholastic Assessment Test Subject Test, or other rigorous assessments will satisfy end-of-course assessment graduation requirements.
▪ All students will complete a college readiness diagnostic assessment in the 8th and 10th grade. Students may choose to take a college entrance exam in the 11th grade, all at state expense.
▪ Limitations are established on the field testing of questions for assessments to the minimum number of field tests necessary to ensure the validity of the questions.
▪ Safeguards and criminal penalties are also added to maintain the security and integrity of our assessment system.
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