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Cesar Mata

Texas Considers Reversing Tough Testing and Graduation Requirements - NYTimes.com - 3 views

www.nytimes.com/...d-graduation-requirements.html

texas testing graduation Education

shared by Cesar Mata on 22 Apr 13 - No Cached
  • Proponents say teachers will be able to be more creative in the classroom while students will have more flexibility to pursue vocational or technically oriented courses of study.
  • Legislators raised the number of high school exit exams to 15 from 4 in 2007, a year after they passed a law to automatically enroll all high school students in a curriculum that mandates four years of English, science, social studies and math, including an advanced algebra class.
  • Texas now requires more than double the number of end-of-course exams used in any of the eight states that currently mandate that students pass such exams, according to the Education Commission of the States.
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • Here in Texas, the backlash has been fiercest among parents and educators who believe testing has become excessive, particularly after a period when the state cut its budget for education.
  • Test critics also argue that standardized tests stifle experimentation in the classroom. “It turns our schools into these cookie-cutter manufacturing plants,”
  • Some educators say the tests do not account for students who learn at different paces. “We expect every student to perform at certain levels with the same amount of time,”
  • Champions of more stringent graduation requirements say they also help push students — particularly those who do not come from families in which college attendance is assumed — to achieve at levels they might not have considered on their own.
  • Since the tougher recommended curriculum was signed into law, the proportion of Texas high school graduates taking at least one Advanced Placement exam who were from low income backgrounds rose to 45.3 percent in 2012, from 30.5 percent in 2007.
  • (The graduation rate in Texas actually rose from 63 percent in 2007 to 72 percent in 2011, the most recent year for which state education agency data is available.)
  • Defenders of the current curriculum come from “the elitist in our society who devalue blue-collar work and believe every student must get a four-year college degree,”
  • Even some students say, though, that standards help guide their choices. “If they are allowed the option to not take a harder math class, of course they’re not going to do that,” said Anthony Tomkins, 18, a senior at Akins who plans to attend Texas A&M. “So forcing it upon us in the long run is actually a good thing.”
  • Cesar Mata on 22 Apr 13
     
    Texas lawmakers consider legislation that would reduce both graduation requirements and standardized testing. Supporters on both sides weigh in on why this may or may not be a good thing for Texas students.
  • ...7 more comments...
  • Cesar Mata on 22 Apr 13
     
    What do you all think as Texas educators about the proposal to reduce graduation requirements and standardized testing?
  • Adam Hovde on 24 Apr 13
     
    It is about time. It seems all we are doing is testing students or getting them ready to do testing. As a teacher i feel bombarded with test training and testing dates and as a parent I feel like what can I do to help my child be ready for all these testing days. Hopefully in the next few years we can backtrack and come up with other ways of assessing students (portfolios etc). My school was brought into a consortium that is opting out of some of the testing already (HB 1887). We are looking into other ways of assessing our students and hopefully this can become a standard for the state rather than just giving standardized tests.
  • Janice Wilson Butler on 24 Apr 13
     
    I hope they move in that direction as well. It seems the teachers know what is best and they never really bother to ask them. When you think about it, 15 tests to graduate? Really? After all the other work they have to do in their school careers?
  • Heather Luna on 28 Apr 13
     
    It is about time that someone is actually considering the student, meaningful learning, and long-term success. Testing and accountability have their place in education, but as it stands, testing is being used for all the wrong reasons. At the end of the day, educators are responsible for fostering and promoting life-long, successful learners. These changes may actually bring the passion back to teaching and learning!
  • Isabel Cabrera on 29 Apr 13
     
    I agree with the superintendent in this article, that all students learn at different paces, perform at certain levels with the same amount of time. ---"That's fundamentally flawed." because it does not leave room for differentiated instruction.
  • Juan Betancourt on 29 Apr 13
     
    There is too much time being spent on testing. We should provide students with strong vocational programs that can provide a source or income for their future, whether they are college bound or not. Having a college education is great, but it they can't get that at lease they will have a skill that can help them earn a good living.
  • Cesar Mata on 29 Apr 13
     
    The 15 tests to graduate also doesn't include the tests that the students would need to take if they wish to go to a university or college. I'm thinking ACT, SAT, THEA or TASP as it was called when I was in high school. Oh and I think they have one called the accuplacer too. That gets closer to 20 tests!
  • albert rodriguez on 29 Apr 13
     
    This notion of accountability through standardized testing has back-fired on its creators. We're suppose to be producing college and career-ready products, not test ready products. And even at that we're failing.
  • Conrado Gonzalez on 01 May 13
     
    Oh my such a hard topic. On the one hand the need to know where we stand. On the other, the excessive, myopic, pedagogical approach inherent in testing-based curricula. Yes, we have heard all the utopian assertiveness that the test doesn't determine the curriculum and yet we all have been victims of the mixed messaging that occurs and the unofficial mandates to "teach to the test" in the end.
Ruth Garza

IDRA - Attrition and Dropout Rates in Texas - 6 views

www.idra.org/Attrition

shared by Ruth Garza on 06 Oct 12 - No Cached
    • Ruth Garza
      Ruth Garza on 06 Oct 12
       
      We are losing way too many students because 1 of every 4 students are dropping out of school.
    • R. Palomares
      R. Palomares on 07 Oct 12
       
      Ruth, these drop out rates are alarming. I specifically found interesting but alarming the information that mentions that Texas schools are losing 13 students per hour. Wow, that means that in an average day, 91 students drop out. I think that we have a great job ahead of us in developing ways to diminish those drop out rates and create classrooms where students feel the need to want to stay in school.
    • Santos Alvarado
      Santos Alvarado on 29 Oct 12
       
      Ruth great article, its very shocking to see the drop out rates in Texas alone, and to know that another 2.8 million students are going to dropout in the next 25 years. I would like to know how Texas stacks up against other states, even though we have more schools and larger population, do other states have a similar rate/avg as our state.
    • vincent briseno
      vincent briseno on 04 Nov 12
       
      My daughter and I were just talking about this the other day. She was writing a paper arguing for year round school. Here is a similar article she used as a resource. The information is very eye opening. http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/public-education/prepaing-texas-student-college-struggle/
  • Maribel Gracia on 07 Oct 12
     
    Hey Ruth I was shocked to read about the dropouts rates for Texas. I ask myself, why are so many students dropping out every hour in Texas? We need to make learning fun for these students not to drop out and graduate from high School. Alot of these students get to much pressure of the state test that it turns them off from reaching their goals and graduating.
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  • Alberto Gonzalez on 08 Oct 12
     
    At my school district. Edinburg has a campus that helps students graduate from high school because of increasing drop out rates. Majority of students drop out because of numerous reasons, examples; pregnancy, parents, jobs, peer pressure, jail ect. School districts should open up a campus that help students graduate on credit recovery. Even getting a G.E.D is better than nothing, but yes I do agree the drop out rate has increased over the years.
  • Sara Aldape on 29 Oct 12
     
    It's so sad that lots of kiddos are dropping out. Many of them give up because they can't pass the state test and many of them just don't have the support at home. It's amazing how many students we are losing.
  • Santos Alvarado on 29 Oct 12
     
    Ruth great article, its very shocking and sad to see the drop out rates in Texas alone, and to know that another 2.8 million students are going to dropout in the next 25 years. I would like to know how Texas compares to other states, even though we have more schools and larger population, do other states have a similar rate/avg as our state.
  • Marivel Garcia on 03 Nov 12
     
    This article is so scary, why are we losing so many kids and why don't they see the tremendous challenge they have ahead without an education. I personally see some of my students that have fallen between the cracks and unfortunately I can make a prediction that he/she will probably choose the wrong path. It's really sad but I believe our education system doesn't allow us to teach anymore and therefore we have lost track of the purpose of learning. The majority of our students are economically disadvantage and it seems like school has become a burden because all we talk about is the importance of passing those test.
  • Diana Cedillo on 05 Nov 12
     
    It's hard to fathom the drop-out rate of our students. From my observations, it's around the middle school level where students lose internal motivation. Many students already know the system and what grade level they have to make it to for their parents to be okay with. I believe it may be a mixture of their hormones and the choice of poor friends that lead them down the wrong path. As an educator, it's hard to motivate these students when we're up against their family telling them, don't worry, do what you want, I don't care. I'm not saying all parents...just a few of the parents who don't care themselves. If they don't care to better their lives, why should their kids? It's hard. We're faced with the parents who are receiving assistance and their kids know that all they have to do is get through 8th grade. After that, they too can stay at home and receive assistance.
  • Blanca Pena on 08 Nov 12
     
    Great article to read and digest in everyday that we send our kids to school to get an education. The drop-out rate speaks to the high volume of students that lack guidance and motivation to succeed in life. I am proud to be a part of a program at my campus that offers an alternative for students to regain their credits. The program we use is the A+Plus program where students are placed to a lab classroom environment and are given the opportunity to regain their credits. This program has helped our campus reduce the drop-out rate and increase graduation ratios. Thank you for the article. Blanca.
  • Mario Ortiz on 11 Nov 12
     
    I agree with the comments that other students are making regarding this alarming situation. We need to make learning fun and engaging, but how can we do this? If every time we try to incorporate technology in the classroom we are reprimanded because they think students are just playing.
  • Crystal Martinez on 12 Nov 12
     
    Great article...It is very alarming on all the information that was given. I have incorporated technology into my everyday lessons so I could keep my students engaged and wanting to learn more. Teaching should be fun and unfortunately due to state tests some teachers just teach to the test and put the pressure to the students to pass the state tests.
Salina V

School Library Online Resources - 20 views

What is good about our library is that they have all the passwords and links for these resources on bookmakers at the circulation desk. Even with this though, I do agree that students do not use a...

technology resources library butler allsemesters

started by Adriana G Hernandez on 21 Mar 12 9 follow-ups, last by Salina V on 14 May 12
Lucero Martinez

Report calls for more broadband access in schools | eSchool News - 3 views

www.eschoolnews.com/...re-broadband-access-in-schools

shared by Lucero Martinez on 13 Nov 12 - No Cached
  • Lucero Martinez on 13 Nov 12
     
    More technology in the classroom means needing more broadband access that we can truly rely on. Too many times teachers have tried to use technology and the speed is just not there. We can't use technology without the right resources and access along with speed is a major factor in allowing to use it effectively. How would you rate your district's internet access and speed?
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  • Diana Cedillo on 15 Nov 12
     
    I do believe the use of broadband is an issue with our campus. There have been several activities I'd like to conduct with my students but am held back because of the use of broadband. I've been told, that whatever I'd like to try will slow the speed down. Well then, how about we purchase more bandwidth so we can conduct more activities online??
  • R. Palomares on 18 Nov 12
     
    I would say that our internet access and speed in our district is good. I agree with what Christine Fox said, " Young children entering school nowadays are accustomed to digital learning devices and expect that level of technology in schools". We use large broadband access so much that it's now a necessity and not merely a luxury. Students are using laptops for audio podcasts, e-textbooks, and collaboration that it's important to have more broadband access in schools. This is a great article Lucero. Thank you for sharing.
  • Victoria Lopez on 19 Nov 12
     
    Luckily, like Romel, I aslo work at the same school district and agree that the broadband connectivity is pretty quick. I have heard other educators' concerns regarding buffering during streaming on DiscoveryEducation,but I have not experienced that. Streaming videos and music does require large amounts of bandwidth and so if educators are planning on activities that require these, it will be a slow process :(
  • Blanca Pena on 23 Nov 12
     
    How would I rate our district internet speed? One word..SLOW!..This is my 5th year at my High School and even though we are getting more technology equipment for student and teacher use, the most common problem remains to be "internet connectivity. The campus refuses to purchase wireless devises that could help our student stay current with technology use due to lack of broadband support. The teachers cannot access the wireless technology on their own personal laptop, IPOD, IPHONEs because it slows down the internet connectivity for the rest of the school. This is a hugh problem and remain an issue that needs to be address by administration.
  • Marivel Garcia on 24 Nov 12
     
    Well our district internet speed is extremely slow most of the time which does interrupt lesson presentations at times. Most of us have accustomed to bring our internet to speed up the process and eliminate firewalls. However, I do agree that it is an issue that needs to be addressed.
  • Yadira Flores on 02 Dec 12
     
    I know educators could teach so many new tools to their students if they were given the right tools, and internet speed is one that is lacking in our classrooms.
  • nora garza on 02 Dec 12
     
    Most certainly! Slow internet access delays some of the website that run in flash. Especially most of the Web 2.0 tools run very slow at school. Hopefully the districts can take this into consideration and can increase the broadband access.
  • Sergio Perez on 03 Dec 12
     
    At my school we do have quick Internet service on the student computers that work. I have three student computers in my classroom but only one of them works properly. We also have Computers On Wheels but the school district has made it difficult for the teachers to use them. It is important to have broadband in order to utilize all of the web 2.0 tools we are learning about in our graduate classes.
Delilah Alegria

How has becoming an MTT change you? - 45 views

When I first started the MTT program, I was a bit skeptical about my abilities to perform at a high level. I quickly realized that becoming an MTT was more of a learning experience than an assessme...

tech classroom

started by Claudia MARQUEZ on 19 Feb 12 18 follow-ups, last by Delilah Alegria on 26 Mar 12
Salina V

Tablets Haven't Killed the PC Yet -- Campus Technology - - 17 views

I can see how they would replace PCs in the future. I know that my laptop replaced my desktop here in my house. While I think they would still have the items available for those who do prefer PCs,...

started by Adriana G Hernandez on 26 Mar 12 8 follow-ups, last by Salina V on 14 May 12
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