Hays CISD official: Schools have become "testing enterprises"

Austin and Hays school districts joined more than 400 other school districts in signing a resolution to take a stand against the current testing system in which every Texas public school is graded

Click on the story links to send a comment or click on the "comments" at the bottom of the post

By Erin Cargile

Read the complete story

YouTube video parody (click on link)

AUSTIN TX (Thursday May 3 2012) - It is testing time for Central Texas students required to pass the state's new standardized State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness – or STAAR – test.

KXAN News got a rare look inside a Central Texas high school on a state testing day, and learned why the superintendent of the Hays Consolidated Independent School District is concerned.

"Instruction has stopped in Hays CISD during this time. All we are are testing enterprises – every campus," said Superintendent Jeremy Lyon. "And I think it's too much."

Sup Lyon

Lehman High School students in Kyle sit at desks lining the gym floor, filling in answer sheets. Down the hallway is a place teachers call the "war room" where hundreds of pencils, calculators, testing booklets and answer sheets are being organized.

"The war room of the TAKS and STAAR assessment system that has absolutely taken over every high school in Texas and that's all we focus on and all we do right now," said Lyon. "I can't say as an educator that's in the best interest of our educational program. It's in no one's best interest!

Parents and students with the Austin school districts are also blasting the high-stakes testing. Several stood up and spoke to the school board at a meeting in April. "Education is not a business, families and communities are not your market, teachers are not assembly line workers and students are not products," said one speaker.

In other news:

New rules kicking in for Texas driver's license applications

Houston Chronicle/chron.com | By Robert Stanton (May 4, 2012) – Texans who apply for a new driver’s license or ID card will need to show proof that they have lived in the state at least 30 days under a new law that takes effect on Monday. Now, applicants will need to present two acceptable documents containing the applicant’s name and address to establish proof of residency in the state of Texas, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

To meet the residency requirement for an original identification card or driver license, an applicant must:

– Reside in Texas for at least 30 days prior to application

– Present two acceptable documents establishing proof of residency, one of which must demonstrate the applicant has lived in Texas at least 30 days

More details here from the Texas Department of Public Safety.