Kate Alexander, Austin Statesman
The Texas House on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to loosen high school graduation requirements and significantly reduce high-stakes testing after a daylong debate in which legislators grappled with how academic rigor and flexibility can co-exist.
House Bill 5 won preliminary passage on a 145-2 vote. State Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, who unsuccessfully pushed an amendment aimed at steering more students toward college, and state Rep. Naomi Gonzalez, D-El Paso, were the only nays.
The legislation reduces from 15 to five the number of end-of-course exams needed for graduation from high school and amounts to an about-face for Texas, which has been at the forefront of the standardized testing movement. The required tests would be algebra, biology, U.S. history and 10th-grade reading and writing.
The bill also replaces the current “4×4” graduation plan — four years of English, math, science and social studies — with several different paths to a diploma. The aim is to increase flexibility for students, particularly those seeking career training.
The Senate’s version of testing and graduation reform could be taken up on Wednesday. It echoes the House bill on graduation plans, and it also reduces the high-stakes assessments to five, though it would require different tests.
Giving students more options to craft a graduation plan relevant to their goals should reduce the number of dropouts, improve career readiness and foster student success, said House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, who is carrying House Bill 5.
A bipartisan coalition of members led by Strama argued that the state would be backing away from the rigorous requirements that have produced results, particularly among low-income and minority students, in the name of giving students flexibility.
“Every conversation I’ve had for months has revolved and swirled around this issue,” Aycock said.
(Read more of this story at the Austin Statesman)
MORE COVERAGE OF THIS STORY:
• House ed bill reduces high-stakes exams (Chron.com)
• House Approves New Approach to High School Graduation (Texas Tribune)
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