Pfft.
TASP was before TAAS. It was originally implement because so many functionally illiterate students were being passed on. It was tied to Ross's pet project No Pass No Play. Standardized testing has been around alot longer than that in Texas, however it stopped once elementary school was over.
Part of the problem with the school system is the bloated administration, consultants and the waste of time and money for "seminars" teachers go to during the school year. Then there is the waste of time and energy making sure everyone has positive self-esteem because we are all the center of the universe. (Sing 2 verses of Kumbayah now) If teachers simply taught the 3R's the students would pass the tests.
I took my child out of public education after the TAS became a miserable failure. It was a joke. The teachers did nothing but teach to the test and when they were not doing that..they watched movies. I am saying we should TEST THE TEACHERS first and then give standardized tests to the students. Mexican immigration has had an enormous impact on our school system here in Texas as well and liberal policies in Austin and politics on both sides have made Texas impotent in the face of it.