Texas Association of School Administrators and Texas Association of School Boards convention held in Dallas (September 26 - 29 - 'Education is Everybody's Business'

Some of the TASB Officers and Directors

Trustees and school administrators for public education representing hundreds of 

Texas School Boards and Independent School Districts (ISDs) met this week-end
(September 26 - 29) in the Dallas Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center.  

The Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and the Texas Association
of School Boards (TASB) hosted the Annual Convention to provide education and
training for 1,000+ ISDs making it a 100% Texas ISD membership organization.

The theme:  Education is Everybody's Business.

In addition to dozens of educational sessions, the Annual Convention featured the
following general session speakers: 

Mrs. Laura W. Bush, Former First Lady
Steven Berlin Johnson, Award Wnning Author
Ken Kay, Chief Executive Officer, EdLeader 21

Participants could also attend The  Lecture Series to hear four "Distinguished Speakers":

Larry Speck, Former Dean of th eSchool of achitecture, The University of Texas at Austin
                      and Current President, Texas Society of Architects
Andrew Busch, Editor in Chief, the Busch Update
Nikhil Goyal, Author and Learning Revolution Leader
Angela Maiers, author an dAward-Winning Educator, Maiers Education Services

The TASB Delegate Assembly adopted Proposed Changes to Priorities of its 2012-14 Advocacy
Agenda and Proposed 2012-2014 Advocacy Resolutions Recommended for Adoption.

TASB delegates also approved two changes for the TASB Cornerstone Principles:

• Strong family and community engagement to create optimal opportunities for each child

• Opposition to th euse of public funds for vouchers, tax credits, and other mechanisms

         to privitize public education

Superb student performing groups from Stephenville ISD and Aldine ISD captivated the audience.

Darrell Floyd, TASA President and Superintendent of Stephenville ISD, presided on Friday.

Viola Garcia, TASB President and Board Secretary, Aldine ISD, was presider at the Saturday General Session. 

Sunday's presiding officer was Faye Beaulieu, TASB President Elect and Board Vice-President, Hurst-Euless Bedford ISD.

Thanks to TASB Staff and Executive Director James B. Crow for another high-quality Annual Convention.  

The Texas High Performance Schools Consortium

"Senate Bill 1557
The 82nd Texas Legislature approved Senate Bill 1557 in 2011, calling for the commissioner of education to select schools for the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium.  After an application process, 23 Texas school districts were selected in September 2012 by Commissioner Michael Williams to comprise the Consortium.

According to SB 1557, the Consortium is charged with improving student learning in the state of Texas by developing innovative high-priority learning standards and assessment and accountability systems.  The major work of the Consortium includes developing a system that has high priority learning standards, includes the use of multiple assessments with accountability at the local level, and integrates the use of technology into student learning.

Visioning Institute
SB 1557 is an extension of the work of the Visioning Institute that began in 2006 when a group of 35 superintendents from across the state of Texas came together and asked the question, “What should curriculum, instruction, assessment and accountability include as districts work to meet the needs of students?” From the work of the Visioning Institute, ideas emerged that included the importance of a) integrating technology into the learning process on a routine basis, b) using a curriculum that includes high-priority learning standards as opposed to a curriculum that is “a mile wide and an inch deep,” c) broad-based accountability that relies on a variety of measures, d) authentic assessment of students as a powerful tool that enables educators to customize learning, and e) local communities maintaining the lion’s share of control in determining the success of schools.

We believe in the appropriate use of standardized tests and the role they play in measuring educational inequities and the system as a whole, but the current assessment and accountability system is much too reliant on high-stakes, standardized testing. Based on the work of the Visioning Institute, the work of the Consortium, as charged by SB 1557, is to create a balanced assessment and accountability system that insists upon high standards for all students and provides flexibility to local communities."

**********************************************************************************

Can A Few Good Schools Make an Amicable Split with Texas’ Accountability System?

439 Texas school districts have adopted the resolution concerning high stakes testing

 From TASA - Texas Association of School Administrators - Click Here

"As of May 10, 2012, 439 districts representing more than 2.3 million students have notified us they've adopted the resolution."

Region 10 - Dallas area

Allen ISD
Anna ISD
Avalon ISD
Bells ISD
Bland ISD
Blue Ridge ISD
Boles ISD
Caddo Mills ISD
Celeste ISD
Celina ISD
Commerce ISD
Community ISD
Coppell ISD
Denison ISD
Ennis ISD
Ferris ISD
Frisco ISD
Greenville ISD
Highland Park ISD
Kaufman ISD
Kemp ISD
McKinney ISD
Mesquite ISD
Palmer ISD
Plano ISD
Richardson ISD
Rockwall ISD
Royse City ISD
Savoy ISD
Sherman ISD
Trenton ISD
Van Alstyne ISD
Waxahachie ISD
Whitewright ISD
Wills Point ISD

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

San Antonio ISD joins testing backlash

From My San Antonio - Click Here

By Maria Luisa Cesar

Updated 10:16 p.m., Saturday, April 14, 2012

The San Antonio Independent School District joined more than 280 districts across Texas in mounting a revolt against what they call an “over reliance” on high-stakes, standardized tests.

The school board adopted a resolution Monday calling on the Legislature to re-examine the state's accountability system. As of Friday afternoon, 282 school districts had passed the resolution, according to reports from the Texas Association of School Administrators.
The point is to grab lawmakers' attention and show them that school districts are united in their opposition, Sylvester Perez, SAISD's interim superintendent, said Friday

In San Antonio, nine school districts — including Northside and North East ISD — have adopted the resolution, which argues that using high-stakes, standardized tests as the only form of state and federal assessment is “strangling” public schools. East Central ISD trustees are set to discuss the resolution and could adopt it Thursday, according to the board's agenda.