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Special Episode 03: How do you solve a problem like state testing?

Accountability measures force us to take students not just from where they were to somewhere better but all the way

We have been very vocal here at Real Talk Intervention about our support of school accountability measures, standardized testing in general, and the high school STAAR EOC tests specifically. Last month we took action and spoke before the Texas legislature in support of school accountability, specifically against HB 1333 The Teaching Over Testing Act.

When we returned to our school from that trip, word of what we had done traveled fast. Many of our colleagues cheered on us, others weren't such fans of our opinions though they appreciated our moxie. But what really struck us was the reactions of the students - ours and other teachers - who watched the video of our testimony. A group of students came to both of us, stood before us, and said "Thank you. Thank you for telling them we weren't ready to graduate."
Once students exit the doors of our high school that is it.
We hear a lot of stories of the stressed out third grader who is struggling with anxiety about these tests. But we are seeing the 19-year-old, who is failing their senior level classes, who has no idea what's being taught, because they are still reading at a third grade level. Those 19-year-old students have been suddenly confronted with the reality that all these years of school have not been just free babysitting, but are actually filled with information and skills that they desperately need to go out into the world and make their dreams come true.

Once those students exit the doors of our high school, that is it. Standardized measures of accountability force us to not just take students from where they were to somewhere better but to take them all the way. And every single student needs to go all the way if they're going to compete.

In today's podcast we discuss the conflicting feelings and realities of the elementary and secondary campuses when it comes to standardized testing, and we give our suggestions for changing The Teaching Over Testing Act so that it could still help elementary school students while not having such a catastrophic impact on high schools.

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