TXSBOE1 Letter to Gov. Abbott | Cancel the Tests

26 October 2020

Governor Greg Abbott
Texas Capitol
1100 Congress Ave, 2S.1
Austin, TX 78701

CC: Commissioner Mike Morath
Texas Education Agency
1701 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701

Dear Governor Abbott:

Earlier this year, you waived administration of the STAAR test for the 2019-20 school year as a result of educational disruptions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was clear then that administering high-stakes tests while the majority of students are learning remotely would be logistically challenging, yield questionable data, and carry negative consequences for both students and schools.

When I wrote to you in March to ask that you waive the spring STAAR administration, I pointed out that broadband infrastructure is unavailable across much of State Board of Education District 1. Many communities along the border between Texas and Mexico do not have access to WiFi and lack the digital devices necessary for online learning. This remains unchanged, and many communities have become even more isolated during the pandemic. As cases surge, El Paso is now under a new lockdown, which will further disrupt the learning process.

The potential consequences attached to STAAR outcomes are serious. Student promotion, retention, and graduation is based on test scores. The school accountability system includes interventions and sanctions based on STAAR data. Furthermore, we know the effects of high-stakes testing leading to toxic stress in children. Our students and teachers are already burdened with the stress of adapting to remote instructional models, in addition to the stress of simply trying to survive this pandemic. Administration of high-stakes tests this year would only add to this stress, while jeopardizing students’ academic careers and subjecting schools to the threat of sanctions based on unreliable STAAR data.

I applaud you for your reasonable decision to waive the administration of the 2019-20 STAAR assessments. Today our students and teachers face the same – if not greater – challenges, rendering the need for a waiver this year even more critical. I respectfully ask that you waive administration of the STAAR, TELPAS, and all end-of-course (EOC) assessments for the 2020-21 school year.