Senators Grill TEA Chief on Testing, School Funding
When Commissioner Michael Williams appeared before state senators Wednesday to ask them to add money to the Texas Education Agency's budget, they had a few questions of their own.
Williams testified at the Senate Finance Committee's initial hearing on the $186.8 billion budget it released earlier this month, and among the commissioner's requests were another $22 million to fulfill "state and federal testing requirements" and the restoration of a proposed $2.6 million cut in funding for agency administrative operations. Senators took the opportunity to probe the new agency chief on his priorities for public education ...
Comments (16)
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Isn't that what they wanted? Starvation?
Vicki Rawlins McCuistion via Texas Tribune on Facebook
uh oh, not on message- "still need to cut!"
Leesa Monroe via Texas Tribune on Facebook
But he didn't know that until he worked there. He had no clue what that agency did.
Tony Scott Sevilla via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Do you all really think politicians care about our public education system? They are trying to implement a education system where tax dollars will go into the pockets of their friends and contributors by eliminating public education and setting up a private system. So keep cutting and start giving your tax dollars to politicians.
Steve Cook via Texas Tribune on Facebook
if texas actually paid for achievements and not for simply filling seats ,things would be alot different. Not to mention all the fraud waste and abuse of funds.
Mark Chatham
When asked by Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, if we are testing our students too much, our Commissioner responded with, "We measure what we treasure." What kind of response is that? We give up 40+ days of instruction to test our HS students. HELL yes we test too much. Come on Commissioner, answer the Senator's question.
Rebecca Book Warnick via Texas Tribune on Facebook
"We measure what we treasure" ? You have got to be kidding me. This is how our Commissioner of Education addresses serious questions?
Randy Nichols via Texas Tribune on Facebook
TEA has been mismanaging money and
Randy Nichols via Texas Tribune on Facebook
illegally shutting down schools for their bureaucratic profit.
Phillip Sanders via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I don't think that's what the committee wanted to hear. They have filed several bills to cut back standardized testing. Lets hope these get passed.
R J
Isn't the only reason school districts are putting pressure on the Lege to stop testing is that little Johnny and little Janie cant pass the tests? This makes the parents mad and then the school supt. gets calls and the teachers are riled up because they get blamed for not doing their job and everyone throws a fit and says, 'it's all the tests fault"!
Our students keep lagging behind other developed nations on standardized tests. Why?
That is the question we need to get an answer to, Senator. Why can't they pass?
Texas RMS
So the commissioner isn't willing to go to bat for restoring funding for prek but he has no problem asking for more money for testing? This is the man who is supposed to be the chief advocate for public education in the state.
Marsha Jeffus Burris via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I was visiting with a 17 year old 9th grade student today - he was retained twice before 9th grade. He will be required to pass 15 EOC/STAAR exams to graduate & all his father wants is for his son to get a high school diploma. Do you think he will make it to graduation? He is discouraged already! I see more students at-risk of dropping out because of these EOC/STAAR exams. Imagine what schools could do with the money spent on testing. In addition to saving our students self esteem.
Terri Davis via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Don't let the Legislators off that easily. Remember, the end-of-course exams originated WITH THEM. They wanted it. They got it. Now they DON'T want it and are trying to scapegoat anybody but themselves. Too bad they changed their minds after they sunk billions of $$$ into the testing machine. So typical of this fickle group though--spend money and THEN think through the decision.
Dinah Miller via Texas Tribune on Facebook
How will a bare bones agency handle lifting the cap on charter schools?
Texas Parents Opt Out of State Tests via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Rick Perry's appointee continues to defend the STAAR/EOC testing regime, despite widespread criticism from parents, teachers, legislators and district superintendents. We certainly understand this man's need to protect his job, but not to the detriment of our children's education. "We measure what we treasure"? Only a simple-minded bureaucrat would say something like that.