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From Canceling STAAR Entirely to Limiting its Use
Morath Gets Lots of COVID-19 STAAR Advice
Education Commissioner Mike Morath has been getting lots of advice about what to do about STAAR this school year.
A group of 68 Democratic and Republican state House members, for instance, signed on to an open letter sent by state Rep. Diego Bernal, D-San Antonio, calling for Morath to ask the U.S. Department of Education to cancel STAAR testing this school year.
“Instead of proceeding with the administration of the STAAR exam as planned, the agency, along with our districts and campuses, should be focused on providing high-quality public education with an emphasis on ensuring the health and safety of students and educators,” Bernal’s letter says. At the most, STAAR testing should be used for diagnostic purposes only, the letter adds.
Meanwhile, a group of superintendents, education advocacy groups and business leaders signed on to a letter by Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa asking Morath to keep STAAR testing in place, but to use the assessments only for student diagnostic purposes.
“We think it is critical for government leaders and policy makers to fully understand the extent and the disproportionate nature of COVID-19 learning loss that has likely occurred for our communities from limited income homes and our communities of color as they are asked to make critical and equitable resourcing and policy decisions for our state’s 5.4 million children in K-12,” the letter said.
A big unknown is what testing and accountability waivers the incoming Biden presidential administration will allow.