BISD WANTS TESTING PROVISIONS PULLED FROM SCHOOL FINANCE BILL

  

The Brenham ISD is urging state legislators to remove the controversial testing provisions from the School Finance Reform Bill.

In a release from the district’s administrative office, Superintendent Dr. Walter Jackson says he’s, “greatly disappointed that the Senate has passed House Bill 3 by a vote of 18-13.”   Senator Lois Kolkhorst’s office counters that the vote was actually 26-2, according to the Senate Journal.

The bill includes provisions for four new writing tests in grades 3-8 and a new assessment in kindergarten.

Jackson says parents, educators, and the general public have made it clear that students are already tested too much.

Jackson says the BISD, “accepts the challenges of accountability, but feels strongly that adding additional testing will not produce greater learning, rather it will serve as a deterrent to authentic learning and teaching.”

Jackson goes on the say the district already has the formula for positive school reform; hire great teachers, pay them well, support them, and allow them to teach and nurture the future.

Meanwhile, Senator Kolkhorst counters, “Our teachers, students and taxpayers deserve unwavering support because they're building the future of Texas. That's why I am proud to help pass House Bill 3 with overwhelming bipartisan support. This legislation brings together the best of Texas by providing landmark school finance reform that raises the state's share of student funding, delivers a state-funded $5,000 pay raise for classroom teachers and librarians, and also provides meaningful property tax relief."

The district is requesting that the legislators remove the additional testing provisions from HB-3, and do not tie additional school funding to the STAAR tests.