Students taking the STAAR test can rest easy knowing their scores won't affect their final grades, for another year at least.
Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams announced the TEA will hold off on implementing the so-called "15 percent" rule until fall of 2013. Under the rule, which was due to go into effect last year, but was delayed, 15 percent of a student's standardized test score will be factored into that student's final grade. The rule has caused quite a controversy among parents and educators.
Kelly Trlica, chief academic officer for Lubbock ISD, agrees with the deferral, and said one of the biggest problems she has with the rule is that the state would end up with too much control over a student's grades, instead of leaving it to local schools.
"We stand behind that," Trlica said. "We do believe that the grades that students receive in Algebra I, for example, should be determined by that student's work in that class by the Algebra I teacher."
During Thursday night's City Council meeting, the members approved a resolution encouraging the Legislature to examine the entire accountability system of the state's public schools.
