Special Edition: Flynn Report

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas   Representative Flynn holds TEA accountable for implementation of HB 2804 During the 84th Legislative Session the House passed HB 2804 which established an A-F letter grading system for schools and school districts to officially implemented by 2018. Although the bill passed with a large majority vote--119 yeas 17 nays 2 present not voting--many Representatives who voted for it including myself are unhappy with the implementation. The text of the bill calls for a system of greater accountability than the previous system. It outlines 3 broad criteria that the grades should be based upon: improving students preparedness to move on to the next grade level/secondary education reducing the achievement gap among students from different racial ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds and informing parents and the community regarding campus and district performance. The bill goes on to state that underneath those 3 pieces of criteria will be 5 domains that school districts and campuses must be evaluated on. These include: the results of assessment instruments required for graduation retaken by a student the percentage of students who met the standard for annual improvement on the assessment instruments the student academic achievement differentials among students from different racial ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds evaluating districts graduation and dropout rates and finally the performance related to community and student engagement (established by the community; not state). All in all these are good criteria to be examining within Texas schools. However what the bill leaves to the discretion of the Commissioner of Education is exactly how the grades should be calculated within those criteria and how heavily assessment instruments"--or the STAAR test--will be weighted. I agree with many Texas teachers parents and administrators who believe that STAAR is not a good representation of annual improvement" especially for minorities and students with disabilities. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has stated that students will take STAAR with or without allowable accommodations." This means that students with disabilities are also taking STAAR or STAAR Alternate 2 and their scores are being factored in to the grade of the school regardless of the tests disputed effectiveness. Of the four domains graded by TEA STAAR test scores factor in to the first three domains and count for 65 of a schools overall grade. I am disappointed with both the STAAR testing system and how TEA has weighted test scores so heavily within the new A-F grading system. We all agree that schools must have accountability but under this new system good schools are receiving grades of Cs and lower due to the emphasis on standardized testing. It is imperative that legislators and TEA work together to improve this system so that all students can be adequately accounted for and well educated. My office and I are dedicated to continuing our work on this issue. It remains my pleasure and honor to represent all the people of House District 2. My staff and I continue to welcome your input and your questions.  You can contact our office; mailing address: P.O. Box 2910 Austin TX 78768. Email: District2.Flynn@house.state.tx.us. Phone Number: 512-463-0880