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 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."

Lew Blackburn approved the high stakes testing resolution for the April 12th board briefing agenda - then refused to allow a vote at the April 26th Board meeting - Why?

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Re: Agenda Request -- Resolution Concerning High Stakes, Standardied Testing - TASB
Date:	Wed, 4 Apr 2012 16:54:49 +0000
From:	Dr. Lew Blackburn
Reply-To:
To:	Carla Ranger, Alan King
CC:

Carla,
I approve adding this item to the Board Briefing agenda for discussion and possible action at the Regular Board meeting this month. Thanks for your request.

Lew Blackburn, Ph.D.
President
Dallas ISD Board of Trustees

---

From: Carla Ranger

Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2012 12:58:58 -0500

To: Alan King

Cc: Lew Blackburn

Subject: Agenda Request -- Resolution Concerning High Stakes, Standardied Testing - TASB

Good afternoon,

At the Texas Association of School Boards Board of Directors
Spring Meeting this past week-end, the Resolution Concerning
High Stakes, Standardized Testing of Texas Public School Students
was adopted. 

As you are aware, the resolution was initiated by the Texas Association
of School Administrators during the recent TASA convention.

This is to request placement of the resolution on the Dallas ISD Board
Agenda for the April 26, 2012 Board meeting for adoption after
review and approval by the legal staff.

A copy of the Resolution is attached.

In addition to being adopted unanimously by the TASB Board of Directors
on Saturday, March 31, I believe the Resolution has been adopted by over
100 Texas school districts.

Please include a copy of the Resolution in the Friday Board update so all
Trustees will be able to review it.

Thank you.

CR

Lew Blackburn denies the third request for Board vote on High Stakes Testing

This is actually the third request and Board President Lew Blackburn's reply.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	RE: Corrected Copy - RE: Second Board Agenda Request -- Resolution Concerning High Stakes, Standardized Testing - TASA and TASB
Date:	Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:57:57 +0000
From:	Blackburn, Lew
To:	Ranger, Carla
CC:

Trustee Ranger,

I noticed that you did not address your request to me, although I did respond to your requests.  I am choosing to respond again.

Board policy BE(LOCAL) vests authority for preparing the agenda with the Board President and the Superintendent of Schools.  In addition, three board members may request that an item be placed on the agenda and BE (LOCAL) requires that such be done within 60 days of the presentment of the request. 

I did not say that there was a policy that required a consensus of the trustees for an item to be placed on the agenda.  My statement was an observation of the trustees’ actions at the board briefing. 

However, as I indicated during the Board Briefing, if three (3) trustees request that the resolution be placed on the agenda, I will honor the request.  As of today, you are the only trustee who has made the request.  Please note, the agenda will be approved for posting by 4:00 p.m. Friday, April 20.

With Regards for Children,


Lew Blackburn, Ph.D.
President, Board of Trustees
Dallas ISD