BREAKING: 30 mins ago, @RoundRockISD leadership sent this letter to @teainfo. It demands that:
-in-person school be suspended until 7-day hospitalization average is 5 or less
-additional state funds are allocated for safe schooling
-STAAR Tests/A-F grading system are suspended
Student benefit should always be the primary adjudicating criterion for decisions concerning education—especially now. There’s lots of room for science, creativity, leadership, and moral courage in there. Politics? Nope. These are kids, not pawns in some grownup’s game.
Just watched Sec. DeVos accuse public schools (falsely, if facts counted) of a failed response to the pandemic as a poorly veiled argument for privatization. Isn’t it strange that the leader of public ed in this country wants to tear it down rather than help make it better?
If a business did the same thing for twenty years and it failed to have the desired effect, it would declare the idea a failure and find a different direction. Test-based accountability for schools, anyone?
School Districts....
Please, please, please include teachers when forming committees that will decide when and how to safely reopen our schools. #EdChat
Georgia is suspending standardized testing for the upcoming school year & formal teacher evals and are seeking to permanently cut certain tests. This will also save $10's of millions from the budget that can be used toward teacher pay, etc. Let's hope other states step up!
Too often people believe leadership is about saying just the right thing to motivate or activate.
But I think leadership is even more about carefully listening to gain perspective, wisdom, and understanding.
#COVIDー19 has proven:
Accountability is not the driving force behind great teaching.
We’ve removed state tests, teacher evaluations, and even grades in some cases. What happened? Teachers are working harder than ever!
#BoldSchool#satchat#SaturdayThoughts#leadupchat
Now is not the time for rigor.
Now is not the time for lengthy assignments.
Now is not the time for a lot of new technology.
Now is the time for small doses of meaningful work.
Now is the time for access and availability to students.
Now is the time for compassion.
Both the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge were built during the Great Depression. Great things can be built during great adversity. Start building today.
Commissioner Morath on STAAR requirements: "Seniors can graduate as long as they meet the academic standards set by their respective districts." #AskAbbott#txed
At H-E-B, our top priority is taking care of Texas. We're announcing today that we will provide a $3M gift to support Texas non-profits helping seniors, children and low-income families as we work together to slow the spread. (1/2)
UPDATE - 3/16 - 2:30pm
All UIL Contests, Rehearsals, Practices & Workouts Suspended Due to COVID-19
INFO & UPDATES ⬇️
Academics: https://t.co/QLlTNze1ek
Athletics: https://t.co/FAofB58nQr
Music: https://t.co/HPuIA8bUqu