Sigh. It’s that time of year. Despite clear rules on discussion pages that preclude the debate over the motives or wisdom of opt out parents, we get several people eveyr year who have to post nonsense such as “life it hard” and “what are you teaching your children?” So here’s a brief answer to that […]
STAAR OPT OUT WEBINAR – May 1
Txedrights is pleased to present our first STAAR Opt Out webinar. Join TPERN Chairman Scott Placek and panelists Caite Brooks, Sarah and Ben Becker and Edy Chamness as they discuss the legalities and practicalities of Opting Out of STAAR. The webinar is free and can be joined by going here: Webinar Link at 8 p.m. […]
Jerk of the Week – Drew Scheberle, Austin Chamber of Commerce VP
The Jerk of the Week award is not given out every week. It’s only given out when someone engages in particularly jerky behavior. Our winner this week is none of than Austin Chamber of Commerce vice president (sorry, SENIOR vice-president) Drew Scheberle. Young Mr. Scheberle is quite the accomplished scholar. Growing up in the affluent […]
Please Set Your Password
This is a post I hate to write, but it is sadly necessary. A number of parents choose to opt out by having their kids refuse the assessment. This is completely fine. Choose the best route for you. A growing number of schools have chosen to work with parents to enable the refusal to take […]
IGC Graduation Does NOT Require Two Failed Attempts on EOCs
It’s always something. For whatever reason, misinformation spreads faster in school districts than lice. And much like lice, the students are always the ones who get the raw end of the deal. Although we ought to be well past the point of arguing about this, apparently ESCs and school counselors are spreading blatantly incorrect information […]
Conroe ISD Doubles Down on Old Lies
We’ve received a report of a demonstrably false e-mail being sent to parents at a Conroe ISD junior high school., McCullough Junior High. The full email is below, but the closing paragraph of the e-mail read as follows: “Also, as a general reminder to ensure there is no confusion or surprise, Texas students in eighth […]
An Open Letter to Mike Morath
from Ben Becker I am a public school parent, and I do want accountability for our schools. What makes a good school is so much more complex than what any single assessment can determine, and I look forward to the day when this is recognized by the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Legislature. Until […]
TEA Scraps 5th/8th Grade STAAR Consequences
Facing a pending deadline to answer the lawsuit filed by four Texas parents challenging the 2016 STAAR administrations for grades 3-8, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath announced major changes to 5th and 8th grade STAAR for this year. In a letter to Texas administrators, Morath announced that the TEA was “removing student consequences attached to STAAR […]
Call to Action: Comment on Proposed Accountability Rules
Despite knowing that the Grade 3-5, and likely the Grade 6-8 STAAR, assessments do not comply with the time limits set in Education Code, the TEA is moving forward with plans to use those ratings in the 2015-2016 accountability ratings. This is done via the rulemaking process. Parents should submit public comment on this matter […]
Seguin ISD Files Due Process Complaint Against TEA
Finally! A district has realized the can and must stand up for their students with regard to STAAR assessment. Although this is a limited scope complaint, it marks, to our knowledge, the first formal complaint made against the TEA for accommodation issues relating to STAAR. TPERN salutes the Seguin ISD for taking this long overdue […]