Drew Scheberle, senior vice president of Education and Talent Development at the Austin Chamber of Commerce, was among several panelists who addressed standardized testing, college and workforce readiness, and student accountability at the SXSWedu conference March 5.

A topic of discussion in the 83rd Texas Legislature is House Bill 5, which examines the number of mandatory assessment tests students must take per year. Scheberle said he is for keeping 15 tests a year and that the mandatory tests are a way to ensure uniformity. Temple College President Glenda Barron said that the testing makes it easier to explain to parents the assessment of college readiness for students. She said many community colleges have students who are not ready for higher education courses and that the focus should not be the readiness for college versus career, because any profession will require a certain level of competence.

The panel also discussed whether standardized testing is the best form of student assessment. Kim Alexander, superintendent of the Roscoe, Texas Collegiate ISD, said that other measurements may be necessary to assess student growth, including internships or other real-world experience that encourages collaboration with others and to think creatively. Alexander said that standardized testing should not be eliminated entirely but that other measurements of assessment should be taken into account.

"We realized that what we've been doing is not working anymore," Alexander said.

John Fitzpatrick, executive director of Educate Texas, said he is concerned about too much focus on testing in the Legislature and that more emphasis should be placed on getting high school students to higher education. Educate Texas is a public-private initiative that focuses on preparing students for success in school and the workforce.