When state testing was initiated several decades ago the purpose was to ensure kids who graduated from high school could read, write, and do basic math - all necessary skills for life. The tests now are a far cry from the original intent, and it seems to have become more about money than the kids’ learning. The current tests have zero to do with basic skills. This became more apparent with the introduction of AI grading. We live in a great state, so it is unfortunate that our education system, which affects the future of every child, family, community, entire state, and nation has become a glaring area of weakness and compromise. I pray daily that someone with common sense and a loud voice that can’t be ignored will become a major contributor to what happens next. This issue should be about people, not politics. Decisions that affect people have proven historically to be the backbone of society and directly determine the difference between mediocrity and greatness.

I (fortunately) don''t teach a tested subject, but the tests still affect my classes. I lose teaching time to all these tests and benchmarks, and most of my classes are mixed grade levels, so I get hit twice when half the class is gone one day and the other half is out two days later. And, let''s face it, tested subjects teach to the test, rather than teach to the subject. In my classes, I should not have to teach student to extrapolate, interpolate, or think critically; however, I have to undo years of teaching to the test in order to teach students how to learn and apply what they already know to help themselves understand new concepts. Really, the only accurate information the STAAR tests provide is (1) how good students are at taking tests, and (2) what kind of day they are having on test day. Classroom teachers have a better understanding of what their students know or don''t know. For the free response questions that have been added to the STAARs, AI is useless for grading. Therefore schools should never be limited on their ability to challenge the grading, especially if AI continues to be utilized. College Board spends millions of dollars to have thousands of teachers spend a week or more grading AP exam FRQs to ensure accurate scores. It kills me when a responder obviously knows the answer and understands the concept, but in their haste/stress/exhaustion leave out a key term (or an acceptable equivalent) that''s required to be in the response and I have to deny them the point. The millions wasted on STAAR testing are better spent on helping teachers equip their classrooms to provide students a high-quality education rather than us having beg, borrow or steal, dig into our own pockets for needed supplies and equipment, or do without.

Please stop all state testing. It creates even more unnecessary anxiety for my kids and they are already dealing with so much as it is. These tests are a detriment to their mental health and teach them grades matter. No, grades so not matter. Effort matters. Care matters. Integrity matters. These are the characteristics I want my son and daughter to know that are important and not the pass/ fail they receive after hours and hours of after school effort and Saturday mornings only to be told his efforts didn’t matter. He “failed”. He spiraled into tears. His in-class assessments matter- his relationship with his peers and teacher matter; and, his skill building matters. He performs As and Bs in those areas. These are what matter.

Stop the bs and let these kids stop testing you don’t care about our kids you just care about your pocket