Aycock's proposal, House Bill 5, would move public schools to an accountability system with grades of A through F, a concept that has drawn support from Sen. Dan Patrick, the Houston Republican who chairs the upper chamber's education committee, and Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams. It would also significantly reduce the number of standardized tests students must pass to graduate.
The legislation removes a requirement that graduating students must achieve a certain cumulative score across 15 end-of-course exams and changes the number they must take to five in reading, writing, biology, Algebra I and U.S. history. Students would be able to count satisfactory performance on Advanced Placement, SAT or ACT exams toward graduation requirements. It also expands the diploma options available to high school students, allowing them to earn "endorsements" with focuses on areas of studies like humanities, science, engineering, technology and math, or business and industry.
"House Bill 5 will improve education in Texas by better equipping schools to meet students' individual needs," Aycock said in his announcement. "The filing of this bill is the first step in a very important conversation about the quality of both our schools and our workforce."
But not everyone belives this is the case. Quorum Report tells us that two nationa interest groups - La Raza and the Education Trust - testified that the changes will do little to address the achievement gap that persists between white and minority students in the state. They have been joines by business groups and Rod Paige, the former Secretary of Education.
Two nationally recognized groups that advocate for closing the achievement gap between white and minority students have urged Texas House members to reconsider the graduation plans created under House Bill 5.
This is one of the first times in recent memory that national education advocates have raised concerns over Texas policy. In past policy decisions, such as requiring four years in core subject areas or setting college readiness standards, Texas has been ahead of most states. In the letter from La Raza and Education Trust, sent to House members on Friday, however, the two groups said the state was taking a step backwards from recent progress and raised concerns about the treatment of minority students.
“The proposed changes would take Texas back to the bad old days of pervasive tracking, ignoring the clear evidence that all students, regardless of the path they choose after high school, need the same rigorous course content to succeed in an economy that demands high-level skills,” wrote Kati Haycock of Ed Trust and Janet Murguia of The National Council of La Raza. “We urge you to stay the course; maintain rigorous expectations for all students.”
The two groups are not the only ones to raise concerns. Last week, a business coalition raised similar concerns with the Texas Senate, noting that rigorous coursework was the prime indicator of potential success in a two- or four-year college. According to the letter, fewer than 20 percent of those whose highest level of math was geometry ever earn a college degree. Among those who take trigonometry, that rises to 60 percent.
And this morning, former Secretary of Education Rod Paige sent out his own statement, urging lawmakers to reject House Bill 5 for weakening both high school graduation requirements and standardized assessments.
“I urge the Texas House to reject House Bill 5 and to say no to these kinds of efforts to lower the standards in Texas schools,” Paige said. “Our children and our schools need high standards of learning, and abandoning strong accountability and assessment is wrong for Texas.”
- The Fort Worth Star Telegram is not impressed with the bill: "It has elements aimed at making students feel better about their academic performance.
- A grassroots group called Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment has advocated for the bill in order to limit the number of assessments given to students.
- The Texas Association of Business intends to support a number of amendments to the bill.
- The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board commissioner argues that the reduction of assessments will reduce college readiness.
