Big Changes Proposed to TAKS Test

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Big Changes Proposed to TAKS Test

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Posted: 11:00 PM Oct 21, 2008
Last Updated: 11:06 PM Oct 21, 2008
Reporter: Joe Brown
Email Address: brown@kbtx.com

32 comments

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Taking the TAKS test may be less intimidating in the near future.

A plan unveiled in Austin Tuesday by the House and Senate education committees proposes no longer requiring students to pass the TAKS to move to the next grade. Instead, individual school districts would determine if a borderline student is held back.

In a statement, Senate Education Committee Chair Florence Shapiro said, "Just because we have said social promotion won't be based on a single test doesn't mean we won't take care of those students (who are under performing). We're not saying they won't be held back; we're just saying the decision won't be based on one test."

The other major change recommends basing annual school performance ratings on three years of TAKS tests rather than only the most recent.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: hann Location: arligton on Dec 10, 2008 at 11:19 AM
I think the taks test is stupid. I am a senior who finished everything at school but the math taks.Its the only thing holding my diploma. I think they should take it away. If people havn't noticed the drop out rate has increased and the failure rate of it is not really improving.

Posted by: DB Location: Bryan on Oct 25, 2008 at 08:51 AM
Another change not mentioned is that now the Special Ed students now have to take the TAKS test. That means we now have 6th - 12th grade students that read on the 1st grade level trying to take a test they can't read. Talk about frustrating! (even if the test is somewhat modified) Why can't we take kids that DON'T want to be in school, teach them a trade, and let them go to work? Then they won't be completely disrupting classes with students that DO want to learn???

Posted by: Jodi Location: CS on Oct 24, 2008 at 01:11 PM
To 'to jodi'... I do understand that different students learn differently. I have a child that is in Special Education as well as the Dislexia program. That said, I know all to well about that, but I still do not make excuses for him. I still expect him to do his best and 'study.' If you would have read my comments more carefully then you would have read that I said 'If a student is an A-B student then why are they having trouble with this test.' Meaning.. If a student is already an A-B student all they would have to do is study for the tests.. I didn't say anything about the students that have a little more trouble with tests. Obviously I would never bad mouth a student for learning a little slower than others, being a parent of a student in that situation.

Posted by: To jdp on Oct 24, 2008 at 01:08 PM
"This is a arbitrary test and covers about 5% of the necessary educational based knowlege that a child needs to move into the real world....Just get rid of the test and let teachers teach the subject matter they have been trained to teach." You're throwing the baby out with the bathwater; the reason you can't "let the teachers teach what they have been trained to teach" is that some of them haven't been trained to teach anything, especially in the lowest paid school districts. The TEST material needs to be revamped away from some ivy league "here's what graduate philosphy students should be able to discuss" and into If you can get a 16 oz for $2.50 or a 20 oz for $3.00, which is a better buy?

Posted by: Jodi Location: CS on Oct 24, 2008 at 12:55 PM
To: Domaco34 Location: bcs on Oct 23, 2008 at 10:38 AM.. No I am not.. I am only referring to the fact that the whole "no child left behind" obviously doesn't apply there. Oh and the fact that they will have extra time to get thier scores up so that they can finally be 'recognized' if they can have more than one year to do it.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 23, 2008 at 04:50 PM
To "Teacher", very well put. Thank you!

Posted by: Teacher on Oct 23, 2008 at 03:27 PM
If students dont pass the TAKS (3,5,8th grades) the school (certain people on a committee) can allow the student to go on to the next grade. Its not set in stone that if they dont pass they dont go on. Although its sad when I teach 7th graders that cant even do their multiplication facts or know how to divide because schools have just passed them on given that they failed the TAKS year after year and just "assume" they will catch on the next year and they just KEEP getting more left behind. The TAKS tests makes sure the teachers are doing their jobs and the students are learning what is expected. No, not all students are able to pass but there are MODS for those students and some of the others that are borderline are usually still promoted to the next grade even if they dont pass--given that the "committee" believes they are capable of achieving expectations in the next grade.

Posted by: jdp Location: central texas on Oct 23, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Holding kids accountable is one thing. Basing the entire four years of high school on one really useless test is another. If anyone on here is a teacher, they see both sides. Kids must have a standard of learning that the teachers must be strong enough to enforce. On the other hand, teachers now have to spend a large portion of thier teaching time to teach the TAKS tedt and give practice tests. This is a arbitrary test and covers about 5% of the necessary educational based knowlege that a child needs to move into the real world. It certainly does not have any beaing on preparing the child for college. If it did, why have SAT and ACT tests. Because the colleges have studies the TAKS program and find it severely flawed on judging a child's intelligence and ability to learn. Just get rid of the test and let teachers teach the subject matter they have been trained to teach. It is frustrating when one whole six weeks is devoted to the TAKS practice time.

Posted by: to jodi on Oct 23, 2008 at 02:51 PM
There is no way for our students to "study" for this test.....there is no study guide.

Posted by: to jodi on Oct 23, 2008 at 11:21 AM
If you were in the school setting JOdi you would know that there are alot of students that can study hard and still fail test. Its not because they are not smart its beacuse every student is different and learn different.

Posted by: Domaco34 Location: bcs on Oct 23, 2008 at 10:38 AM
To jodi, are you saying that Navasota schools are not turning smart kids out of its doors?

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 23, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Back in the 80s (between No Pass No Play and TAAS), I knew jocks who were straight A students without ever bothering to go to class as long as they kept their game stats up. That changed with TAAS, but I guess folks want it to go back to the good old days.

Posted by: Jodi Location: CS on Oct 23, 2008 at 09:30 AM
If a student is an A-B student then why are they having trouble with this test. If they were so smart then they should be able to pass.. Just quit making excuses for your children and actually make them STUDY!!! WHEW what a concept?

Posted by: Anonymous Location: CS on Oct 23, 2008 at 08:11 AM
I agree, the anxiety it creates for our kids is really sad. One of our children has even become physically ill the morning before the test worrying if he can't pass he will fail the grade. He passes core classes all year. They do not comprehend that parents and teachers will decide later if they are held back...students are told if they do not pass they will repeat the grade. Tremendous pressure....why not put confidence and power back in the classroom and let our teachers do the job they are trained and great at doing?

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Texas on Oct 23, 2008 at 08:00 AM
"My child hates when it's time for the TAKS test he doesn't sleep a night because the teachers push passing and moving on to the next grade and they make the parents apart of it to." This is the very reason they want to change the test. Too many administrators are pushing teachers to teach to the test so they can pass and move on even though teachers would rather just teach the content and not teach to the test. There has to be some way to collectively see how a student improves their learning over a period of time - that is true learning.

Posted by: Chris Location: College Station on Oct 23, 2008 at 07:07 AM
I would like to know how many A-B students cannot pass the test. I bet it is VERY small percentage. The test is not that hard!

Posted by: Jennifer on Oct 22, 2008 at 10:16 PM
I hope this does pass,I know lots of kids that are A-B, students that do very well. But to hold them back because of a test? I think the school broad should focus on teaching these kids to learn not to just pass a test for funding. Because that's really what it's about. Some of these kids can't count momey ,nor make change. Something needs to change soon. My child hates when it's time for the TAKS test he doesn't sleep a night because the teachers push passing and moving on to the next grade and they make the parents apart of it to. I know I tell my son everyday please focus so you will not be held back. Why? Because he is an A-B student.

Posted by: me Location: Bryan on Oct 22, 2008 at 03:50 PM
There should be basic standards that have to be met in order to graduate. I do not think it is too much to ask that a high school student be able to pass a test in order to graduate. If you are too stupid to pass a test after multiple tries, maybe you do not deserve a high school diploma.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 22, 2008 at 01:36 PM
I'm glad I'm not the only one who knew that it is up to the school administrators/school district whether or not you go on to the next grade level if you do not pass the TAKS test. From what I hear the test has gotten a lot harder than it was when it was the TAAS test, filled with a lot of irrelevant information.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 22, 2008 at 01:34 PM
This is good news. Children as young a 8 feel tremendous pressure due to this test. Quality curriculum is dropped to teach testing skills. We need to focus on educating our young people and not a test. We are rarely evaluated in the real world by an arbitrary test.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 22, 2008 at 12:40 PM
the TAKS test isn't that hard to pass...

Posted by: Craig Location: College Station on Oct 22, 2008 at 10:19 AM
This is an easy test that students have multiple tries at, but people are still opposed to making it mean anything. We just continue to dumb down our students.

Posted by: anonymous Location: Bryan on Oct 22, 2008 at 10:08 AM
I agree with the first part, changing to allow the school to decide if the student should go to the next grade. If a student makes A's & B's all year, but miss passing the TAKS test by a few points, then they should not be held in that grade. Also, the schools have to spend too much time teaching to the test so that the kids can pass it.

Posted by: Parent Location: Texas on Oct 22, 2008 at 09:31 AM
In some ways i do not have a problem with this in others I do . I am glad our school system will not be clogged up with students who we need to just be moved out of the way. But it is sad that students will now be able to move on with out a proper education.

Posted by: To LP on Oct 22, 2008 at 09:22 AM
"Just do away with this stupid test." Right, we REALLY NEED folks who have a high school diploma but can't even make change correctly. OTOH, you're partly correct; they need to change it to make it at least somehwat relevent to fundamental skills; Knowing the EXACT date the Magna Carta was signed (which is what they ask now) isn't really as important as knowing WHY it was necessary...

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 22, 2008 at 09:17 AM
"Instead, individual school districts would determine if a borderline student is held back." IOW, if your daddy is on the school board or you skin is the right color, you can graduate on time even if you can't even READ the test...

Posted by: Parent Location: Bryan on Oct 22, 2008 at 08:43 AM
Does this mean that a child could graduate if they do not pass the TAKs but have high enough grades? I too did not think this test was to move on to the next grade but more about moving to the next level (ie: Jr High, High School, and graduating)I also thought the whole original idea behind the test was to ensure that the schools were not just passing the kids along (giving them passing grades that were not earned)if that was the reason then if the district is to now have the say so what is the point of the test other than financial funding from the state? Once again it's really not about the kids or their education but about the money. If they were really interested in the kids education then the three year performance ratings would be unacceptable because by that time if the school was doing poorly then the damage to the student would already be done and most likely be irreversible.

Posted by: Jodi Location: CS on Oct 22, 2008 at 08:28 AM
"The other major change recommends basing annual school performance ratings on three years of TAKS tests rather than only the most recent." I guess Navasota will have a better chance to get up to par!!!! SAD SAD SAD!!!

Posted by: LW Location: Bryan on Oct 22, 2008 at 08:20 AM
Da_n Politicians, they never could fix anything right. You cain't judge anything by one observation, as with any decesion a thoughtfull evaluation should be done before a decision is made. Especially when VOTING, if we used the current TAKS system to reelect them to office most wouldn't be there.....

Posted by: Duh Location: In the know on Oct 22, 2008 at 06:59 AM
The first "change" mentioned in this article is NOT new. This has been going on all along. Very few children were retained even after failing the test.

Posted by: Loser Police on Oct 22, 2008 at 06:25 AM
Just do away with this stupid test.

Posted by: A Location: College Station on Oct 21, 2008 at 11:17 PM
This is great news....it is about time.

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