PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCACY GROUP PROPOSES NEW ACCOUNTABILITY MODEL IN TESTIMONY TO INTERIM LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

Dallas, TX, June 16, 2008 – A new system for holding public schools accountable for the success of their students has been proposed by Raise Your Hand Texas, a statewide business-based group that supports public education.

Called “The Texas Star System,” the accountability proposal was presented in testimony during a hearing conducted by the Texas Legislature’s Select Committee on Public School Accountability. The committee, which has held hearings in various areas of the state since February, was meeting this afternoon at the University of North Texas-Dallas.

Former Texas Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff, who chairs Raise Your Hand Texas, said a new public school accountability standard should focus on improvement rather than labeling. It should provide true, meaningful accountability that is fair in addressing the diversity of educational settings and challenges across Texas, Ratliff said.

Education expert Dr. Cherry Kugle testified that the lowest performance of one group in one subject at a school campus should not determine a performance rating, which can occur under the current accountability system and has provoked widespread criticism as schools have been forced to close for not meeting current system standards.

Ratliff and Kugle said a new system should determine improvements in individual programs and by individual students and measure comparable improvement among schools with similar indicators. They also called for clear identification of areas in need of improvement, to be addressed by district-wide and campus improvement plans.

The proposed new system draws its name from an assignment of stars as symbols of an individual school or school district’s achievements, reinforced by a system of rewards for success and interventions to resolve problems. Troubled schools and districts would be placed in academic watch, warning or crisis categories depending on the urgency of their need to improve. Still other low-performing schools could be subject to early intervention to prevent their reaching the more serious categories.

Ratliff said the new accountability model proposed by Raise Your Hand Texas is designed to be flexible so it can evolve with future changes in school testing and standards for performance improvement.

Raise Your Hand Texas is a leading public education advocate for accountable, stronger schools. It is led by a board of advisors that includes business persons from throughout the state.

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Dr. Cherry Kugle, 512-289-1050 (cell), or
Howard Falkenberg, 512-632-2258

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