Board of Education seeks input on testing

The State Board of Education (SBOE) is issuing a survey in English and Spanish to seek public input about the state’s current assessment and accountability programs and gather suggestions for future program development. The survey will be open online to all Texans through June 30.
From October 2015 to March 2016, SBOE members held nine Community Conversations meetings around

the state, meeting with more than 500 citizens to gather comments about the state’s student assessment and accountability systems. The online survey addresses the issues raised during the community meetings and allows for additional input from educators, parents, business people and students.
“Our constituents often talk to board members about testing and school ratings issues,” said SBOE Chair Donna Bahorich. “I felt it was also important for board members to have in-depth discussions to learn what educators, parents, business people and others want from these two high profile programs. I believe our findings will be useful in shaping the next generation systems.”
The information gathered from the survey and the Community Conversations will be compiled into a report and presented to the SBOE for its consideration at its July 19-22 meeting. Once adopted, the report will be provided to legislative leaders and the Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessments and Accountability.
The 15-member commission, created by the Texas Legislature, is to make recommendations for statutory changes to the state’s assessment and accountability systems. The commission report is to be submitted to the governor and legislature by Sept. 1.
The survey is available in English at http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2762440/State-Assessments-and-Accountability-Survey and in Spanish at http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2851839/Encuesta-de-evaluaciones-y-responsabilidad-educativa-del-estado. Bahorich encourages Texans to share the link to the surveys to encourage widespread participation.
Comments gathered at each of the Community Conversations are available at http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Leadership/State_Board_of_Education/SBOE_Meetings/Community_Conversations_about_Assessment_and_Accountability/.
For more information about the Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessments and Accountability, please visit http://tea.texas.gov/2804Commission.aspx.
Recent issues in testing and accountability have brought the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) testing standards under scrutiny from the Texas Education Agency and beyond. The Post-Register is working with the Lockhart Independent School District to determine the full impact of those testing concerns on Lockhart students, and will offer a full assessment of the situation next week.