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A New Vision for Accountability Emerges
Posted by Missy Bender
BubbleShare: Share photos - Find great Clip Art Images. After spending a year listening to testimony from Superintendents, School Board Trustees, Business Leaders, Educators, and Parents from around the state, Senator Florence Shapiro and Representative Rob Eissler (Co-Chairs of the Select Committee on Public School Accountability) filed SB3 and HB3 to usher in a new vision for Texas public school accountability.
The bill responds to common messages that they heard across the state:
- One size does not fit all campuses or school districts.
- Provide flexibility in Math and Science course selection.
- Reduce the high stakes nature of TAKS testing.
- Provide students with a broader base of education.
- Measure student growth rather than performance on a single test.
I traveled to Austin with Plano ISD Board President Skip Jenkins to review the bill with Senator Shapiro and support her during a press conference announcing the filing of the bill.
Key features of the identical bills include:
Post Secondary ReadinessSetting a goal of Post Secondary Readiness for college or the skilled workforce rather than performance on a TAKS test.
- College readiness is defined as performance on English III and Algebra II end of course exams
- Skilled Workforce readiness is defined as performance on English III and Algebra I end of course exams
2 Performance TiersCreating 2 tiers of performance and measuring performance with a 3 year rolling average.
- Accreditation Tier - Performance measurement is based upon Student Achievement or Growth toward Post Secondary Readiness, Completion Rates, and Financial Integrity.
- Distinction Tier - Campuses can earn distinctions for excellence in a variety of areas (growth in student achievement, closing the gaps, academic excellence, workforce readiness, second language learning, fine arts, and physical fitness)
Student RelevanceMiddle school students may earn credits toward high school graduation.
Exit standards are aligned with skilled workforce and college readiness standards.
- Students wishing to earn a "Texas Diploma" that is focused on college readiness will complete
- 4 years of English, Social Studies, Math, and Science. Students have a variety of options to satisfy the 4th year Math and Science course.
- 2 years of a language other than English
- 8 elective courses
- Students wishing to earn a "Standard Diploma" that is focused on skilled workforce readiness will complete
- 4 years of English, 3 years of Math and Social Studies, 2 years of Science, and 1 additional year of either Science or Social Studies
- 9 elective courses
HB3 and SB3 are identical. To view the actual text of each 119-page bill, see one of the following documents:
HB3 [pdf file]
SB3 [pdf file]
Ultimately, both the House and the Senate must approve the same bill. If passed, implementation would occur in August 2011.
Posted March 06, 2009
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