By Michael V. Hannigan
Elementary and middle school math teachers can breathe a little easier now.
Commissioner of Education Michael Williams announced Wednesday that results of 2015 STAAR test in mathematics for grades 3–8 will be excluded from the 2015 state accountability system.
“The teachers I have spoken with have confidence that Texas students will, in time, adjust to the more rigorous math standards, but for accountability purposes asked for a transition year,” said Williams. “Based on what I hear from those working in the classroom, I agree and will not count grades 3–8 math assessment results in 2015 accountability ratings for schools, charters and districts.”
The move has been hailed across the state.
Locally, Malakoff ISD Supertindent Randy Perry said, “I am pleased that the Commissioner of Education is listening to the concerns from parents, teachers and superintendents from around the state on the teaching of the new Math TEKS that began this year. Many of the math concepts from higher grades have been moved back to lower grade levels. These changes and additional requirements on our students and teachers have concerned both parents and school districts.”
Eustace ISD Superntendent Dr. Coy Holcombe also agreed, saying, “We support Commissioner Williams’ decision and agree with his assessment that there needs to be a transition year for students and teachers.”
This is not the first time the state has changed the rules in midstream when it comes to standardized testing, as Athens ISD Superintendent Blake Stiles pointed out.
“I think it was a good decision,” said Stiles. “The standards were new in math this year, and the state didn’t tell us what the passing standards would be until after the school year had begun. Unfortunately, this is a pattern. Every time the state makes a major change in standardized testing, they implement it before giving school districts all the information we need.”
Stiles said he is confident school districts and students will be able to meet whatever standards are set before them.
“If you look at the TAKS years, the passing rate almost doubled from the first year it was implemented to the last year. It just takes time to understand the new standards and adjust to the rigor,” he said.
Along with the grades 3–8 math assessments, results from STAAR Accommodated (STAAR A) and STAAR Alternate 2 (a redesign of the original STAAR Alternate) will also be excluded from the 2015 state accountability system. The U.S. Department of Education no longer allows Texas to use modified assessments, which had been used for students receiving special education services that met certain participation criteria. Those students were administered the STAAR Accommodated this year.
These Superintendents, in a very nice way, are saying is that the Commissioner & the Board of Education have once again forced standardized testing on Texas schoolchildren without any input from our locals teachers & administrations. More “teaching to the test ” classroom time will now be necessary.