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Sunday, February 23, 1997

Two board members said they didn't know names on TAAS attack

By PEGGY FIKAC Associated Press

AUSTIN - Two State Board of Education members backed by religious conservatives said Friday they didn't know their names were listed on a colleague's news release calling for abolishment of the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills.

Board member Donna Ballard of The Woodlands put out the news release Thursday saying the TAAS, which tests student skills and is used in rating schools, should be abolished and replaced with periodic administration of another, nationally recognized test.

The call caused an uproar and prompted House Public Education Committee Chairman Paul Sadler, D-Henderson, to say, "I don't know what world they're living on, I really don't."

TAAS supporters say it provides a state-based way to ensure students are being taught what they need to know and gives accountability at a time of increasing local control of schools.

Ballard said the TAAS has spurred unhealthy competition, undue pressure on students and the possibility of fraud.

Besides Ballard, board members David Bradley of Beaumont and Robert Offutt of San Antonio were quoted in the news release, which said the anti-TAAS position was joined by board members Randy Stevenson of Tyler and Richard Neill of Fort Worth. All are Republicans supported by religious conservatives.

Neill and Stevenson said Friday they didn't know their names were going to be used in the release, and that their focus has been on other education issues.

Neill said he has some concerns about the TAAS, such as teacher complaints that they must spend their time teaching the test. But he said he would have to look into it more before deciding whether he would call for it to be abolished.

Stevenson said he doesn't think the TAAS is the best tool for Texas, and he would support it being replaced. But he added that the exam "is really a side issue on the main debate as far as education, and that has to do with the federal government taking control of our schools."

He and other board members backed by religious conservatives have expressed concern about Texas' involvement in a national education standards project, saying it could inject radical ideas into the school curriculum.

Stevenson said his concern about the TAAS stems from the way it would reflect that curriculum.

As for his name being used on the news release, Stevenson said, "It kind of disturbed me. Donna's a good friend and a good board member. I don't want this to be taken negatively. It would disturb anyone, I think."

Ballard didn't immediately return a telephone call from The Associated Press regarding the comments by Neill and Stevenson. She and Offutt spoke earlier Friday at a news conference about their position on TAAS.

"I feel like that I'm standing up here talking for parents and children and teachers today," said Ballard, who said all three interests oppose the TAAS.

Offutt and Ballard said they support Texas having a state-run accountability system, but that the current system should be revamped and simplified.

Texas Education Agency spokeswoman Debbie Graves Ratcliffe said, "Student achievement in Texas has been steadily improving. We believe the accountability system has played a role in that improvement.

"The system makes the public aware of schools that are succeeding and also makes them aware of schools that are failing to meet expectations," she said. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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