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Teachers cheer talk about changing TAKS

By BJ Austin

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-695629.mp3

Dallas, TX – Plano State Senator Florence Shapiro is poised to lead the charge for an overhaul of the testing and school ratings system - replacing the TAKS test with a system that measures yearly student progress, more help, less punishment for low performing schools, and incentives for schools that do well, merit pay possible included. Rena Honea, with Dallas Alliance/AFT, says a TAKS overhaul will make teachers very happy.

Honea says drill and kill is: drill students repeatedly on test-taking strategies, and kill the joy in teaching and learning. Senator Shapiro and others are gearing up for another go at education reform in the 2009 Legislative session.