INSIDER
Five races for the Republican-dominated State Board of Education to watch this year
Read full article: Five races for the Republican-dominated State Board of Education to watch this yearRevising the social studies curriculum could be among the divisive issues the Texas State Board of Education tackles next year.
Texas will use computers to grade written answers on this year’s STAAR tests
Read full article: Texas will use computers to grade written answers on this year’s STAAR testsThe state will save more than $15 million by using technology similar to ChatGPT to give initial scores, reducing the number of human graders needed. The decision caught some educators by surprise.
Texas children are still struggling with math after the pandemic. Some schools are trying a new approach.
Read full article: Texas children are still struggling with math after the pandemic. Some schools are trying a new approach.Policy experts worry students will fall short of the state's future workforce needs. Educators hope the new curriculum will help them.
Texas Education Agency delays release of annual school ratings
Read full article: Texas Education Agency delays release of annual school ratingsTEA said it needs to make adjustments to account for changes in students’ academic performance after the pandemic. The delay comes after several school districts sued to stop the agency from releasing school rankings produced under a new rating system.
School safety, tutoring and hair: These are some of the new education laws that go into effect this year
Read full article: School safety, tutoring and hair: These are some of the new education laws that go into effect this yearLawmakers failed to pass legislation on school vouchers or teacher raises this year, but they approved other education-related laws like an $800 million investment in high-quality instructional materials and new rules for students found vaping or using marijuana.
Despite post-pandemic improvements, STAAR scores show Texas students are still struggling with math and reading
Read full article: Despite post-pandemic improvements, STAAR scores show Texas students are still struggling with math and readingTest results have gone up since the pandemic in both subjects, but math scores are still below 2019 levels and about half of Texas students read below the level appropriate for most children in their grade.
Texas’ pick to lead Houston’s schools used aggressive, polarizing methods in Dallas
Read full article: Texas’ pick to lead Houston’s schools used aggressive, polarizing methods in DallasMike Miles has wasted no time in restructuring schools and proposing administrative layoffs. The changes are designed to pay teachers at struggling schools more if their students show improvement.
Texas House’s version of the Senate’s voucher bill would change eligibility to the program and replace the STAAR test
Read full article: Texas House’s version of the Senate’s voucher bill would change eligibility to the program and replace the STAAR testThe Texas House’s education committee is soon expected to discuss the new version of Senate Bill 8, which was heavily modified to sway votes in the lower chamber.
When showing up at the Texas Capitol made a difference
Read full article: When showing up at the Texas Capitol made a differenceReaders sometimes ask us if the outcomes in governing are predetermined and whether civic engagement makes a difference. There are plenty of examples of Texans influencing lawmakers’ decisions.
High-poverty schools struggle to earn Texas’ highest rating. Some in the Rio Grande Valley break that trend.
Read full article: High-poverty schools struggle to earn Texas’ highest rating. Some in the Rio Grande Valley break that trend.The Texas Education Agency has dismissed the notion that the accountability ratings are a poverty rating. As evidence, they point to districts like those in the Rio Grande Valley, which have achieved high marks while serving a high number of economically disadvantaged students.
Texas high school students slightly improve on some standardized tests — but haven’t fully regained ground since the pandemic
Read full article: Texas high school students slightly improve on some standardized tests — but haven’t fully regained ground since the pandemicStudents saw improvement in the STAAR tests for Algebra I, Biology and U.S. History.
Texas will resume grading public schools based on students’ STAAR test results
Read full article: Texas will resume grading public schools based on students’ STAAR test resultsFor the first time since the pandemic, Texas schools will again be rated based on standardized tests. But for one year only, schools that receive a D or F will get a “not rated” label.
Analysis: Texas schools need support from politically distracted state leaders
Read full article: Analysis: Texas schools need support from politically distracted state leadersPublic education in Texas — like everywhere in the country — is hurting after more than two years of pandemic. But many in the political class are preoccupied with reforms that have more to do with social issues than with education.
San Antonio state lawmaker wants STAAR test canceled this year, cites omicron surge
Read full article: San Antonio state lawmaker wants STAAR test canceled this year, cites omicron surgeA San Antonio state lawmaker is once again taking aim at a state-mandated test that assesses school district and campus performance.
Analysis: Some Texas lawmakers are worried about the wrong reading problem
Read full article: Analysis: Some Texas lawmakers are worried about the wrong reading problemSome Texas Republicans are busy raising questions about what's in the books in the state's public school libraries. The real problem isn't in the books.
Texas students' standardized test scores dropped dramatically during the pandemic, especially in math
Read full article: Texas students' standardized test scores dropped dramatically during the pandemic, especially in mathThe drop was more significant in districts that had most of their instruction online, compared to districts with more in-person classes.
Texas Education Agency offers free tool to parents, schools to find out how much students learned this year
Read full article: Texas Education Agency offers free tool to parents, schools to find out how much students learned this yearAUSTIN, Texas – In an effort to gauge how much students have learned this school year, including being educated from home due to the coronavirus, the Texas Education Agency has launched free, optional end-of-year assessments that school systems and parents can choose to administer. The optional test is not required and does not take the place of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness or STAAR Test that Gov. The results of the optional testing will provide valuable data that informs further instructional support school systems can provide this summer and into the coming school year. Parents can register their student for the optional EOY assessments from May 12 thru June 5. Districts may also print PDF versions of the tests from the testing platform and send to students along with the paper answer documents.