2023 EDUCATION EDITION
“Although STAAR is a one-time assessment, it does have some validity to it, but it is not the end all be all. In Pearland ISD, a student’s success is beyond just one test. We will do everything that we can to make sure that students are learning in the classroom and that learning is re ected on this test because it should be an assessment of that learning.” LARRY BERGER, PEARLAND ISD SUPERINTENDENT
the TEA recommends a 3:1 stu- dent-to-device ratio yet allows schools to administer tests in staggered win- dows so schools that don’t have the capabilities to have every student test online simultaneously can still admin- ister an online test. A F refresh In addition to changing the test structure, the state has also adjusted how it measures district and school accountability with the AF account- ability score refresh. The TEA has handed down an AF score for districts and schools since 2017—excluding the 2020-21 year due to the coronavirus pandemic. While schools this year will still receive a score calculated by three domains, the TEA will take on a new unre- leased method. While districts have received pre- liminary data and insights into how they will be scored, Berger said the nal changes and rules won’t be shared until September, despite STAAR being given in May. Since STAAR is a major component of a district’s overall AF score, this
is concerning for district o cials who already feel STAAR is given too much weight in determining a school or district’s accountability, said Bob Popinski, who is senior director of policy for Raise Your Hand Texas. In fact, Raise Your Hand Texas, an education advocacy organization for Texas public schools, released its Measure What Matters Report in October. The report recommends STAAR should count for less than 50% of a school’s score. “We’re not getting rid of assess- ment; it does play a certain role in how we hold schools and students accountable,” Popinski said. “But there are other indicators that are just as important.” On top of that, school districts won’t receive their scores until Sep- tember, after the school year starts, which Berger said makes it di cult to plan and make necessary adjust- ments for the 2023-24 year. “This whole system has caused our instructional planning to be pushed back as well,” Berger said. Berger is also concerned the new scoring criteria would give the
system, Berger said he is con dent his district and other districts will be able to adapt. “We don’t want to make excuses because obviously you have a new test that came out, and the struc- ture is new, and then you have a new grading system,” Berger said. “There’s going to be a time where we have to start over, and we have to gure out, ‘OK, these are the new rules. This is the new playground. How are we going to make this work for our kids?’” Friendswood ISD o cials declined an interview request.
schools a lower report card rating, despite nothing changing in the dis- trict’s curriculums or performance. Last year, the state provided the district with a “what if” scenario that showed, under the redesigned STAAR and scoring system, PISD’s score dropped from a 94 to a 90, and some campuses even dropped from A to B campuses, Berger said. “So that’s our major concern,” Berger added. “This new grading system is going to put more stress on the teachers and more stress on the kids in the community. People are going to look in the newspaper and go, ‘Wait a minute, Pearland ISD is now a B district. What happened?’” While he is concerned about the challenges created by the grading
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PEARLAND FRIENDSWOOD EDITION • AUGUST 2023
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