After
progress this week from the Texas House of Representatives, the future of high
stakes testing and graduation reform is now in the hands of the Texas Senate. This week the House voted overwhelmingly to loosen high
school graduation requirements and reduce required tests.
House Bill
5 reduces from 15 to five the number of end-of-course exams needed for high
school graduation. It requires tests in algebra, biology, U.S. history and
10th-grade reading and writing. The bill also replaces the current
"4x4" graduation plan - four years of English, math, science and
social studies - with several different paths to a diploma.
The Senate's
version echoes the House bill on graduation plans. It also reduces the
high-stakes assessments to five but requires different tests.
This is a
step in the right direction and is more in alignment with curriculum. I
commend Rep. Aycock for his leadership. Testing has gone beyond what is
reasonable. Though we believe in being accountable for student learning and
college preparation, testing should not drive every day of instruction.
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