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'Bark in the Park' Raises Alzheimer's Awareness
House Plan Defunding STAAR May Break Federal Rules 1/16/13
Associated Press
January 16, 2013
AUSTIN - The Texas Education Agency says the state could violate
federal rules if lawmakers pulled funding for standardized testing.
Agency spokeswoman Debbie Ratcliffe said Tuesday that a Texas House budget
proposal to defund state exams is the first she could recall. Standardized
testing has taken place in Texas classrooms since 1980.
The Texas House budget proposal for 2014-15 provides no funds for the
standardized test known as STAAR. Students statewide began taking STAAR last
school year.
A preliminary Senate budget, however, includes about $94 million annually
for it.
The final state budget will look very different than the proposals.
Ratcliffe said No Child Left Behind laws require elementary, middle and high
school testing.
Proposals to defund STAAR could spark larger debate on what critics call the
state's over-reliance on standardized testing.