The results of the STAAR test have come in, and most of our local districts did fairly well.
But the test is still very controversial, and the legislature has been getting an ear-full from educators.
No one thinks it’s a good idea.
No one thinks it’s good for education.
And apparently, we are stuck with it.
The new STAAR test that replaced the TAKS, has generated a lot of criticism, and that may be putting it lightly.
Tyler Independent School District Superintendent Randy Reid says, it has added a budgetary burden to every school district.
Part of the problem is, from the basic idea of making sure we don’t graduate illiterates, the testing regime has grown.
It has become a way to rate not only students but teachers, schools and districts.
And the test itself carries a lot of weight, 15%, in a student’s final grade.
And that means, regular curriculum gets shoved aside to teach to the test.
So, if all the input is so negative, and neither teachers or students like the situation, why do we have STAAR?
Don’t ever underestimate what any company will do to protect a hundred million dollar a year contract.
Hochberg chose not to run again after 20 years in Austin, but he told me that if his successor wants to work on reducing the impact of the STAAR, or overhauling the whole idea, he’ll travel up highway 71 one more time to help him.