Allen Weeks sent this along:

Austin Voices, as part of a week of “Equity in Action” themed events, is hosting an amazing virtual panel on March 5th from noon to 1:30 pm to discuss where we are going with high-stakes testing and accountability, both in Texas and nationwide. After almost 30 years of investment in the current accountability framework, many are questioning the results while wondering what alternatives are available to continue to try to build equitable opportunities for all.

The panel includes . . . 

Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig (Western Michigan University)

Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond (President and CEO, Learning Policy Institute)

John Tanner (Founder and Executive Director, BravEd)

Brenda Calderon (U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education)

The format of the 90 minute webinar will be a “Town Hall,” with time for panelists to answer questions and discuss together, as well as time to answer questions received through the chat. With the Texas legislative session less than a year away, now is the time to begin formulating ideas for changes to our current system.

Registration is required. Click here to register and receive the zoom link.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSea998-HYJPfXo7cknvbOhwHnDepb_LoQ1HhNnikyqpzhJ0xA/viewform

In the meantime, please take a look at the good work done by Raise Your Hand Texas last year as they spoke with over 15,000 Texans about their ideas around testing and accountability. https://www.raiseyourhandtexas.org/advancing-public-education/our-advocacy-campaigns/measure-what-matters/

If you’d like to dig deeply into the mechanics of how tests are put together, please read this recent article by John Tanner: https://www.brave-ed.com/_files/ugd/524369_06b52d96d17846f2b365abc7086947f5.pdf

Thanks! Spread the word about these events. #education #politics #publicpolicy #highereducation