Austin ISD Board President opposes high stakes testing

From Community Impact Newspaper - Click Here

by Kevin Stich

April 27, 2012

Photo by Kevin Stich

Mark Williams, board president of the Austin Independent School District, said he believes high-stakes testing “is not a productive way to run school districts.”

 ....

 “My own personal philosophy is I’m with them (the resolution). I think high-stakes testing, the pressure of accountability, the pressure of punitive sanctions, is not a productive way to run school districts."

Austin school board decries high-stakes testing

From Impact News.com - Click Here

Joe Olivieri

Kealing Middle School student Callier Creadle spoke out against high stakes standardized testing before the April 23 Austin Independent School District meeting.

"Austin Independent School District became the most recent Texas school district to speak out against high-stakes testing for students.

At its April 23 meeting, AISD's board of trustees unanimously approved a resolution asking the state Legislature to re-examine public school accountability and develop a system that more accurately reflects what students know. That system would enhance teachers' roles as leaders and instructional guides, as well as instill a sense of inquiry and a love of learning in students.

AISD's resolution is similar to a model Texas Association of School Administrators resolution that takes a harder line on the issue.

Both commend Commissioner of Education Robert Scott for his concern on the overemphasis of high-stakes testing and continued support of high standards and local accountability. The TASA resolution goes on to say that over-reliance on standardized high-stakes testing is strangling public schools and undermining any chance of educators turning the education system into one that can prepare children to compete on the global stage."

MORE HERE

It's a rainy day in Texas - public education needs a helping hand

Save neighborhood schools.

Every neighborhood needs a heart.

It's a rainy day in Texas - we need a helping hand.

Children in Austin sing about their schools and this rainy day.

Will the state legislature give a helping hand to the children of Texas?

It's a rainy day everywhere in Texas - certainly in Dallas.

Who can hear the innocent voices of children and not have a heart?
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It’s a rainy day in Austin
And we need a helping hand
It’s a rainy day in Austin
But we’re not ‘Waiting for Superman’
We need a better plan
Kids aren’t the ones to blame
So don’t make them pay.

Every hood needs a heart
Try to look inside yours
To see it's where the children are
So don't lock its doors.