STATEMENT FROM EDUCATION REFORM CAUCUS
REGARDING PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE TAKS

AUSTIN, Texas (May 6, 2004) — The Texas Education Reform Caucus (TERC) today criticized a provision contained in the House-passed school finance bill to eliminate TAKS testing at the high school level, substituting in its place a series of end-of-course exams. Authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1999, the TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) ties academic accountability testing to high school graduation.

TERC Chairman David O. Russell issued the following statement concerning the TAKS test.

“The state has done much good in the past 10 years to maintain high standards, accountability and assessment, but this attempt to kill TAKS at the 11th grade just doesn’t make sense. If TAKS is done away with, how do we account for the millions of dollars and countless hours committed to the development of TAKS since 1999 when TAKS legislation was passed?

“We also have to ask if such a change would advance the goal of increased academic achievement for students. Introducing end-of-course exams may need to be discussed, but killing TAKS isn’t the answer.

“One issue that would need to be addressed is whether killing the TAKS test would be in compliance with federal ‘No Child Left Behind’ requirements. Also what role would end-of-course exams have in district, campus and classroom accountability systems?

“The bottom line is the Texas Education Reform Caucus Board of Directors strongly opposes any efforts to eliminate TAKS as a requirement for high school graduation. Texans have overwhelmingly indicated their support of TAKS testing as an appropriate measure of students’ skills and knowledge, according to a 2004 statewide survey conducted by the Texas Public Education Reform Foundation. Such a fundamental policy shift would require careful deliberation and public input which was clearly not a part of the introduction of this bill.”

Founded in 2000, the Texas Education Reform Caucus is a non-profit group of more than 250 elected officials, educators, school administrators, parents, and civic and business leaders who have joined together to promote public education innovation and improvement. The group is based in Frisco.