LET’S MEASURE WHAT MATTERS IN TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Our schools and our students are so much more than ONE TEST on ONE DAY. Let’s reimagine how we capture and assess performance in Texas schools beyond STAAR.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT MATTERS TO YOU. CHOOSE ONE OF 26 PHRASES FOR YOUR DIGITAL RULER AND SHARE IT ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

WANT TO HELP TEXAS MEASURE WHAT MATTERS IN OUR SCHOOLS?

IT’S TIME TO REIN IN STAAR AND FIND A BETTER WAY FORWARD.

Texas schools help build well-rounded young people who will lead Texas and fuel our future workforce. But the test-centric system we use to grade our public schools is anything but well-rounded.

HOW TEXAS DEFINES A “GOOD” SCHOOL

The Problem

In the course of a 180-day school year, Texas public schools do so much more than administer standardized tests. Yet, we continue to rely on one very narrow measure of school performance to define a “good school”: The STAAR test.

The Opportunity

Let’s expand our definition of a “good school” beyond STAAR test scores and consider the many ways our schools shape young Texans all year long from college and workforce preparedness to teacher quality to parent engagement.

How Texas tracks school & student performance

The Problem

Today, elementary and middle schools are being graded 100% on STAAR test performance. STAAR scores are also the primary factor for high school ratings.

The Opportunity

Standardized testing should be one of many assessment tools to inform instruction and monitor student progress, but a single multiple-choice test should not be the only factor in determining how our students and schools are performing

How Texas grades our public schools

The Problem

A single letter grade (A-F) captured on a single day puts tremendous pressure on students and teachers, and leaves way too much on the table.

The Opportunity

Texas students, teachers and families deserve a more well-rounded approach to school ratings that captures a fuller picture of all the exciting things happening in Texas schools.

Any new accountability plan in Texas should follow these basic principles for KIDS

LEARN MORE ABOUT KIDS

“MY CHILD IS NOT A NUMBER. MY SCHOOL IS NOT A LETTER. THE STAAR IS NOT ENOUGH TO MEASURE MY CHILD OR MY SCHOOL.”

― TEXAS PARENT

Measure What Matters Report

In our Texas Voices conversations, more than 15,600 Texans told us what they think about standardized testing and school accountability.

83% of Texans

polled think public schools should not be graded entirely on STAAR performance*

81% of Texans

polled cite undue pressure placed on students to perform well on standardized assessments as a significant barrier to teaching*

69% of Texans

polled do not believe STAAR effectively measures how well students are learning*

*Sourced from Measure What Matters Report

“MEASURE HOW THEY APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE, NOT HOW THEY MEMORIZE IT.”

― TEXAS PARENT

STAY INFORMED

Explore Measure What Matters Resources

A Report from the Measure What Matters Assessment & Accountability Council

Our Policy Priorities: Assessment & Accountability

Texas Voices

STAAR Test Is Only Part of What Happens In Our Schools

Read Texas Monthly, "How Texas STARR Test Took Over Public School Culture"

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