Texas huh... sounds more like Calif.
Posted on 05/15/2007 3:51:19 PM PDT by devane617
AUSTIN – House members tentatively voted Monday to scrap a 22-year-old requirement that high school students pass a standardized test to graduate – acting just days after a record number of seniors were told they won't get diplomas this month because they failed the test. A student testing bill approved by the House would shift schools to a new assessment program that would require students to take a dozen end-of-course exams in core subjects, with scores counting for 25 percent of the grade in each subject. Unlike an earlier Senate version of the legislation, however, students would not have to pass any of the end-of-course exams to earn a diploma, as long as they had a passing grade in their courses. Under the Senate proposal, students would have to have a passing average on the 12 end-of-course tests to get a diploma, and the tests would count for 15 percent of the final grade in each course. The House measure, which was approved on a voice vote and faces a final vote today, is a sharp turn in academic standards in Texas high schools, where students have had to pass a standardized graduation test since 1985.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
So much for standards. Wonder how the children of the “undocumented workers” scored?
They also instituted a new testing program, if you read the full article. I think the new system makes a heck of a lot more sense.
The “dumbing down” of America continues. Pretty soon they will all be dumb enough to think that Socialism works.
I don’t recall the exact breakdown, so maybe someone can post how the test scored across racial lines.
My mother teaches in the North Harris Montgomery Community College District and complains all the time about the totally unprepared students entering. It is one thing when students get to a normal 4-year university to find that they are unprepared, but to go to a community college and find the same... not good.
But she has also said for years that the test (TAKS) was horrible and that it was not a good indicator of actual learning.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I did read the full article. This?:
“Ms. Shapiro said she would consider that proposal, but she noted that the Senate had also looked at such a provision and decided it was impractical to use end-of-course tests in lower grades.
Still another change in the current testing program, offered by Rep. Dora Olivo, D-Rosenberg, would ease the current requirement that students in grades three and five pass the TAKS to be promoted to the next grade level. The requirement was adopted several years ago to curtail the widespread practice of social promotion – automatically passing students regardless of achievement.
The amendment by Ms. Olivo would reduce the number of times a failing student would have to take the TAKS before his parents, teacher and principal could agree to waive the test requirement and promote the student. Currently, students are given three opportunities to pass, and only then can an agreement be made to promote the student.”
One “reform” was rejected by these same “educators”, the other one is already in place and “token”.
The new system is better.
Having one test is a much worse system than having individual tests for all core subjects.
Still, I don’t think a test really is required at all....if they pass the class, they should graduate.
The percentage of students at each grade level who passed all subject-area tests*:
Third grade: 93%
Fourth grade: 75%
Fifth grade: 89%
Sixth grade: 77%
Seventh grade: 70%
Eighth grade: 60%
Ninth grade: 59%
10th grade: 50%
11th grade: 69%
A record 40,182 high school seniors in Texas failed some portion of the TAKS graduation exam.
The percentage that failed one or more subject areas:
16% overall
28% of black students
24% of Hispanic students
8% of white students
7% of Asian-American students
26% of economically disadvantaged students
Seems a little wrong not to note that the testing was replaced, not eliminated.
Too many problems with excerpts being posted without a comment indicating the main points of the article. That’s just misleading, if it happened.
That would depend. The "end of course" exams would not mean anything if they are teaching seventh grade English to high school sophomores. Or, eighth grade math to high school seniors. Just because they complete the end of course exam doesn't mean they have been taught at their age level.
Sorry if I confused you. I will try to do better next time.
Obviously we're not spending enough money.
Some people don’t get the point you made. These “end of course” exams will not be standardized and will not be graded on a statewide basis. It basically takes the testing from the state and places it in the hands of individual school systems.
As I read this article, it's saying that the state wants to eliminate the test that's required to graduate. That's quite a change. (It also seems to say they want to replace the old test with new ones, but that students won't be required to pass the new tests.)
WA state is doing the same thing. They are revising and delaying the WASL tests.
But hey this just proves we need to spend more money on edukation./s
**House OKs end to TAKS exam (Texas - So many kids failed the test, so let’s get rid of it)**
Most of the reasons for this should be pretty obvious.
The End of Course tests were already on the schedule - I think in 2012.
Would this have an impact of cutting federal funds? If so, forget it - won't happen.
Texas huh... sounds more like Calif.
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