Lewisville ISD board members call for removal of 'high-stakes' requirement for some state assessments

Lewisville ISD students may be able to move on to the next grade level or graduate without meeting the standard for some state assessments following the board's June 8 approval of a new resolution.

The resolution would apply to the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness math and reading tests in fifth and eighth grades as well as to End of Course tests in Algebra, Biology, English I and II and U.S. History in high school grades.

Previously, students had to retake assessments more than once to meet the standard or would not be able to move on to the next grade or graduate. In some cases, this could be overridden by a campus committee.

These test requirements were known as "high-stakes," according to trustee Kristi Hassett, who presented the resolution at the meeting.

The district submitted the resolution to the Texas Association of School Boards annual call for resolutions and said that many states have dropped high-stakes requirements for tests. Allowing students to move on regardless of test performance allows for reduced stress and for students to focus more on what they have learned, the resolution said.