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Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment, TAMSA, is a statewide, grassroots organization comprised of parents and other community members concerned with the overemphasis on high stakes STAAR tests and the misallocation of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to the tests that should be going to the classroom. Our mission is to improve public education in Texas through the use of meaningful and effective student assessments that allow for more productive classroom instruction and more efficient use of public funds. This presentation provides a general overview.
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Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment
(TAMSA)
Implementation of HB5 and Further Progress
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TAMSA Overview
Evolution of Texas Student Assessments
HB5 Overview
TAMSA Advocacy Objectives
How You Can Help
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Who Is TAMSA?
A statewide, grassroots organization comprised of concerned parents and other community members
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Mission
Improve public education in Texas through the use of meaningful and effective student assessments, allowing:
more productive classroom instruction
more efficient use of public funds
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Statewide Membership
*Pins represent districts, organized by ESCs, with TAMSA members signed up on our website as of 3/18/13
Texas Education Service Centers: 1. Edinburg 2. Corpus Christi 3. Victoria 4. Houston 5. Beaumont 6. Huntsville 7. Kilgore 8. Mount Pleasant 9. Wichita Falls 10. Richardson (Dallas) 11. Fort Worth 12. Waco 13. Austin 14. Abilene 15. San Angelo 16. Amarillo 17. Lubbock 18. Midland 19. El Paso 20. San Antonio
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TAMSA’s Motivation
• Support accountability, with high expectations for our children and our schools.
• Appalled by the negative impact of increased over-testing on classroom instruction and our students.
• Collaborated with many others during the 2013 legislative session to pass legislation reforming standardized tests (HB5).
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TAMSA Overview
Evolution of Texas Student Assessments
HB5 Overview
TAMSA Advocacy Objectives
How You Can Help
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Texas Student Assessment Programs
Year Began Name # High Stakes*
1979 TABS X
1984 TEAMS X
1989 TAAS X
2003 TAKS X
2012 STAAR/EOC 22
“High Stakes” tests must be passed to either advance to the next grade level or graduate.
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Parents, employers, & taxpayers ask:
1. How much are we spending on these tests?
2. What is the purpose of these tests?
3. Do these tests help prepare students for college or careers?
Return on Investment of Testing
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Texas Tax Dollars Paid to Pearson
2000 – 2001 2001 – 2002 2002 – 2003 2003 – 2004 2004 – 2005
$39,122,054 $50,208,435 $47,451,455 $58,692,430 $62,641,857
2005 – 2006 2006 – 2007 2007 – 2008 2008 – 2009 2009 – 2010
$87,427,757 $100,214,658 $87,260,970 $92,103,116 $85,208,340
2010 – 2011 2011 – 2012 2012 – 2013 2013 – 2014 2014 – 2015
$90,665,041 $89,058,910 $93,369,544 $96,532,517 $98,766,605
TOTAL 2000 – 2015
$1,178,723,689
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Lost Opportunity
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TAKS% Passing: Sum of All Grades 2003 - 2011
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009* 2010* 2011*
Mathematics Reading Writing Science Social Studies
*2009 – 2011 include TAKS-Acc
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Texas Mean SAT Scores 2003 - 2010
(Max
imu
m S
core
16
00
)
700
750
800
850
900
950
1000
1050
1100
1150
1200
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
African Am. Hispanic White Asian
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Success in Higher Education Overall
*Source: National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) report “A New Measure of Educational Success in Texas: Tracking the Success of 8th Graders Into and Through College” Feb. 2012
College Persistence
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Success in Higher Education by Ethnicity
*Source: National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) report “A New Measure of Educational Success in Texas: Tracking the Success of 8th Graders Into and Through College” Feb. 2012
College Persistence
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Is It Worth It?
1. Taxpayer Expense: $1.2 Billion (minimum)
2. College and Career Ready: No measurable improvement
3. Success in Higher Education: Below national levels
4. Dropout Forecast: Troubling
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TAMSA Overview
Evolution of Texas Student Assessments
HB5 Overview
TAMSA Advocacy Objectives
How You Can Help
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High School STAAR Testing Before HB5
2012-2013 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) program included:
• Count EOC scores as 15% of course grades
• Pass 15 End-of-Course (EOC) exams to graduate
• Achieve a cumulative score on three tests by subject matter to graduate
• To qualify for admission to a Texas 4-year college, achieve a designated score on English III and Algebra II
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15 tests in all 4 core subjects
English Math Science History
English I (R&W)* Algebra I Biology World
Geography
English II (R&W)* Geometry Chemistry World History
English III (R&W)*
Algebra II Physics U.S. History
* Reading & Writing: 2 separate exams, 4 hours each, minimum of 2 essays
High School STAAR Testing Before HB5
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State High-Stakes Exam Comparison
15 state-mandated, high-stakes tests required to graduate from Texas high-schools far outnumbered any other state’s requirements1
Number of States 25 0 7 10 2 4 1 TEXAS
Number of Tests
Required to Pass for
Graduation0 1 2 3 4 5 6 - 9 11 - 15*
*Depending on Graduation Plan
1 Data from Center of Education Policy: “State High School Exit Exams: A Policy in Transition” 9/12
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What Changed in 2013?
• House Bill 5 (HB 5) passed unanimously in both the House and Senate
• HB 5 limited the number of STAAR EOCs in high school and reformed graduation plans
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HB5 decreases STAAR EOCs
5 STAAR EOCs for high school graduation (beginning 2013-14 school year):
• English I (reading and writing combined)
• English II (reading and writing combined)
• Algebra I
• Biology
• US History
In the 2015-16 school year, English III and Algebra II EOCs can be administered at the district’s option.
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Texas vs. Federal High School Testing
TEXAS 5 STAAR EOCs Must Pass to Graduate
• English I
• English II
• Algebra I
• Biology
• US History
FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS NOT High-Stakes
• Reading
• Math
• Science
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HB5 Limits Benchmark Tests
“Benchmark tests” are district-required assessments designed to prepare students for state-mandated (STAAR) tests.
HB5 permits ONLY TWO (2) per year per subject tested.
If you have any concerns about benchmarks in your child's school, check with your principal and school district board of trustees.
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The same grades and subjects are tested with TAKS and STAAR, but STAAR exams are timed and more rigorous.
Grade Math Reading Writing Science S. Studies
3 X X
4 X X X
5 X X X
6 X X
7 X X X
8 X X X X
Federal requirements dictate 14 tests; Texas administers 17.
Testing for Grades 3-8 Did Not Change
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TAMSA Overview
Evolution of Texas Student Assessments
HB5 Overview
TAMSA Advocacy Objectives
How You Can Help
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1. Use state-required standardized testing for diagnostic purposes only
2. Support the implementation of HB5
3. Ensure the appropriate use of standardized testing for special education, disabled, and English Language Learner (ELL) students
4. Limit state-mandated testing in grades 3-8
5. Promote no additional state-designed tests in high school
Advocacy Objectives
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• Eliminate all Texas mandated high-stakes testing
• Ensure state-required exams are diagnostic, not punitive
BENEFIT
Identify areas where students need
additional support
Diagnostic Testing Only
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• Continue to work with TEA (responsible for implementing HB5), educators, and legislators
Support HB5 Implementation
BENEFIT
Keep the pressure on policymakers to
prevent backsliding
• Ensure proper and timely implementation of HB5, including clarification of testing issues and oversight of EOC exams
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• Ensure appropriate use of standardized testing for special education students, including parental awareness and participation in the ARD process
Appropriate Use of Testing
BENEFIT
Raise awareness and prevent students from being disproportionally
harmed by inappropriate state-required
standardized tests
• Support use of modified tests for disabled students despite federal directive to transition away
• Support reasonable phase-in for English Language Learner (ELL) students
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• Eliminate high-stakes tests in grades 5 and 8; Research shows grade retention does not improve student performance.
Limit STAAR Testing in Grades 3-8
BENEFIT
Change the culture of over-testing as early
as possible
• Promote limiting the number tests in grades 3-8, at least to what is required by federal law
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HB5 allows optional Algebra II and English III EOCs at the district’s discretion, starting in 2015-16.
No Additional Required EOCs
BENEFIT
Minimize state-designed standardized tests in high
school, when SAT and ACT are more relevant
TAMSA opposes optional tests and advocates districts use a national norm-referenced test instead.
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TAMSA believes national norm-referenced tests provide better student assessment than expensive state-designed STAAR exams:
• Proven and cannot be taught • Passing rates are not manipulated • Nationally recognized
EXAMPLE National Norm-Referenced Tests:
National Norm-Referenced Tests
Gr. 3 – 7 Gr. 8 Gr. 10 Gr. 11
Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS)
EXPLORE PLAN ACT PSAT
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TAMSA Overview
Evolution of Texas Student Assessments
HB5 Overview
TAMSA Advocacy Objectives
How You Can Help
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What TAMSA’s Done
• Met with legislators, parents, teachers, community groups and businesses
• Worked with education and testing experts at UT Austin
• Participated in TV and newspaper interviews and wrote Op-Eds and Counter Op-Eds
• Testified in hearings before the House, Senate and State Board of Education
• Communicates formally with TEA regarding STAAR implementation and testing issues
• Updates members via e-mail, Facebook posts, Twitter
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What TAMSA Members Did
• Joined TAMSA, liked us on Facebook, followed us on Twitter
• Acted when we sent them instructions
• Wrote, emailed and phoned Legislators and the Governor tirelessly requesting support for HB5
• Participated via social media in the debate about testing in Texas schools
• Met with Legislators in their districts
• Testified in Austin
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Continue Progress, Continue Action
• Because of committed and passionate parents & voters, our voices were heard in Austin.
• HB5 passed in both House and Senate chambers unanimously and limited the number of state-designed tests in high school.
• Progress will not go unchallenged; some are highly motivated to increase the number of STAAR tests.
• Vigilance and continued involvement is essential.
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Next Steps
• Continue to work with TEA on proper and timely implementation of HB5
• Retain a strong parent voice through developing relationships with legislators and policymakers
• Identify legislative issues for next session that will continue progress towards meaningful student assessments.
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Please Join Us
Sign up for updates on our website: www.tamsatx.org
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter www.facebook.com/tamsatx
www.twitter.com/tamsatx
Email: [email protected]
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“I believe in standardizing automobiles,
not human beings.”
Albert Einstein
