The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness are administered to some elementary, middle and high school students. The exams test a student's understanding of math, reading, science and social studies among other subjects. Administration of the tests has been hampered by glitches, lost testing materials and mishandling of students' private information, according to a news release from Isaac’s office.
State Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, hopes to address standardized testing during the 85th Legislative Session, which convenes Jan. 10.[/caption]Isaac said his phone "blew up" after issuing a news release Monday that broadly outlined a plan to overhaul the current administration of the STAAR tests and add a "dose of free-market philosophy to education" by allowing each of the state's more than 1,000 school districts to choose which test to administer to students.
"I don’t think we need to get the problems ironed out at the state level," Isaac told Community Impact Newspaper. "We need to let the districts decide which tests they’re going to implement, when they’re going to implement it, and as long as it complies with state law ... then we’re good with the [federal requirements of the] Every Student Succeeds Act."
On Aug. 23, the Texas Education Agency announced it was levying a $20.7 million fine on the STAAR test’s vendor, Educational Testing Services, which has a $300 million contract with the state to administer the test.
“Flawed testing practices threaten the state of Texas’ ability to fulfill our education system’s goals—and our children’s futures,”Isaac said. “The litany of errors being uncovered about STAAR is simply a disservice to our students, hard-working teachers and families. To that end, I propose that schools be given the freedom to choose from a variety of nationally normed standardized tests, not have their hands tied while the state of Texas tries to iron out STAAR’s many kinks.”
ETS was fined $5.7 million in liquidated damages and directed to invest $15 million in online testing system enrollment, shipping, online testing, precoding, and scoring and reporting, according to the TEA. The 2015-16 school year was the first year the New Jersey-based vendor administrated the STAAR test.
In May the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the state's school finance system "met minimal constitutional requirements," but in the majority opinion, Justice Don Willett called the system "a scheme for which the word Byzantine seems generous."
Isaac said he believes the Legislature will make changes to the state's school funding system, but his focus is on driving down costs through reform in areas such as standardized testing.
"I do think we’re going to work on [school finance] next session," Isaac said. "We’re going to make some adjustments and make some changes. How significant or overreaching they’re going to be, I don’t know. I don’t have a good sense for that right now. I do know that the House and Senate are working on that issue and looking at solutions so we can help our school districts."
