A Call to Action as More University Studies Find Faults in STAAR Tests

Study after study has reached the same conclusion: STAAR exams are testing students at a level of difficulty at least one year above grade level. Many reports are indicating that the tests are as high as three years above grade level. 

If you are wondering which universities have published studies, here is a list:

• Texas A&M University-Commerce: Readability of the STAAR Test is Still Misaligned
• Texas Monthy: New Study Reaffirms That STAAR Reading Tests Are Not on Grade Level
•  New York Times: Texas Says Most of Its Students Aren’t Reading at Grade Level. But Are Its Tests Fair?
• Texas Monthy: Are Texas Kids Failing? Or Are the Tests Rigged?​ 

There have been a handful of Texas Legislators asking for audits, ESSA waivers for federal requirements, and a halting of A-F accountability until this issue is addressed.

• House Public Education Committee Vice Chair Diego Bernal, called for an investigation into the test.
• Senator Beverly Powell filed legislation to direct the state auditor to investigate both the STAAR and the STAAR alternate, with a completion deadline no later than July 1, 2020.
• Senator José Menéndez filed a bill calling for a two-year moratorium on the exam.

All of this occurring while students are preparing to test - you may have seen the "STAAR Lock-Ins," asking students to focus on probable test questions for hours at a time... or "Blitz" events which shut down all content areas except for Reading and Math and every teacher and coach becomes a Reading/Math STAAR teacher. I have seen teachers make music videos and students put on plays illustrating how to "Overpower the STAAR." It should be noted that much of these efforts bare little impact on test scores. 

With Texas teetering between 40th-43rd in national rankings, it has become abundantly clear that STAAR hurts Texas while doing little to nothing to help our students, teachers, and schools. 

How in the world can we get school funding right while we continue to use faulty tests?

Contact your legislators and ask them to support these Bills:

• SB2400 (Sen. Menéndez)
• SB2401 (Sen. Menéndez)
• SB96 (Sen. Menéndez)
• SB2297 (Sen. Powell)
• HB525 (Rep. Holt)
• HB1687 (Rep. White)
• HB3237 (Rep. M. Gonzalez)​