Standardized testing in Texas has significantly increased spending while decreasing spending per student over the last 10 years. The state has spent approximately $366 million on standardized tests, while dropping in rankings of per-student spending. To address budget shortfalls, many school districts have had to lay off hundreds of teachers, increasing class sizes. There are concerns this will negatively impact the quality of education and student outcomes in Texas.

1. The Price of Standardized Testing: 1 Is it worth it? By Jarrett Hill

2. With the current budget situation in Texas, does standardized testing negatively impact student education and teacher employment? 2

3. 3 Major Problem Over the course of the last ten years, Texas has managed to tenfold the amount of money we spend on standardized testing and decrease the amount of money we spend per student.

4. The goal of this research is to get a better understanding of the true price of standardized testing. TAKS 4

6. When that contract expired, TEA and Pearson inked a new five-year deal. This time, though, it was worth $160 million, which, at $32 million a year, represented nearly a fourfold increase.

7. Since 2005, however, the contract has been modified several times. The result: This year alone the state will pay Pearson $88 million to test Texas children. (2009)

8. Testing-related materials add more to the bill. In 2004, TEA signed a four-year, $17.7 million contract with Grow Network for study guides designed for high school students who don’t pass TAKS.

9. A 2006 contract pays Pearson another $8.8 million through 2011 for summer remediation study guides.

10. When added up, taxpayers will pay about $93 million this year to administer standardized tests to Texas students. (2009)

11. Texas Education Agency5

13. In 2000 Texas ranked 25 among all states in expenses per student.

14. In 2001 Texas was 32nd with a difference of 715 dollars amongst other states

15. In 2002 Texas stayed at the 32nd spot.

16. In 2003 Texas dropped to 34 out of 50 states with a difference of over 850 Dollars spent per student

17. In 2004 Texas dropped to the 36th spot with a difference of over 1,000 dollars difference per student vs. the other states

18. Current expenditures for public K-12 schools per student in Fall enrollment, in fiscal year 2005 ($7,142) (According to the National Education Association, Texas was the only state in the nation to cut per pupil spending in fiscal year 2005.) We dropped to the 40th spot.

19. TEXAS6 Lets Do The Math

20. In 2006-2007 Texas ranked 39th, spending an average of $9,825 per student. In 2007-2008 Texas ranked 36th nationally spending an average of $10,662 per student. 2008 -2009 Texas dropped to 44th nationally averaging 8,610 per student. 2009-2010 Texas ranked 37th among all states. In 2009 Texas Estimated Public High School Graduation Rate 61.3% . That wonderful number landed us a 43th spot ranking among all states Education 7 Math Continued

21. Reduction in Force Dallas ISD is giving the pink slip to a minimum of 1,298 teachers. That will save them an estimated 68 million dollars Houston ISD plans to layoff 729 teachers due to the steep budget cuts. These are two of the biggest school districts in the state. This does not include all of the other school districts that had to make tough decisions. This is only teachers, this does not include administrators or at will employees. 8

22. Significance of the Study The significance of this study is to really understand and know the affects that standardized testing is having on us as a state. 9

23. Some say that Apollo 13 was a 375 million dollar failure. Jack Swigert saw a warning light that accompanied the bang, and said, "Houston, we've had a problem here." In reference to Texas and our current “budget” bang , I feel as if the 366 million dollars we have spent on TAKS testing the past ten years was a failure. In the words of Jack Swigert, “Texas, we’ve had a problem here.” 10 Apollo 13

24. Conclusion Budget Crunch Less Teachers Less Teachers Bigger student-teacher ratios Bigger Student –teacher ratios Less Learning Less Learning ?? For the future of Texas education 11

25. Bibliography Cervantes, B. (2011, March 29). Chopping block: Eliminate state funding for standardized testing | Texas Politics | a mySA.com blog. Blogs - San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 14, 2011, from http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2011/03/chopping-block-eliminate-state-funding-for-standardized-testing/ Strayhorn, C. K. (2006, February). Major Challenges Facing Texas Education Today. Http://www.window.state.tx.us/comptrol/wwstand/wws0512ed/wws0512.pdf. Retrieved June 14, 2011. Davis, W. (2011, January 19). PolitiFact Texas | State Sen. Wendy Davis says Texas ranks 44th in education spending per student. PolitiFact | Sorting out the Truth in Politics. Retrieved June 14, 2011, from http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2011/jan/31/wendy-davis/state-sen-wendy-davis-says-texas-ranks-44th-educat/ Education. (2010). In Texas Fact Book. Retrieved June 14, 2011, from http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/Fact_Book/Texas_FactBook_2010.pdf 12

26. Bibliography Student-teacher Ratio to be lifted. (n.d.). Http://www.austinpost.org/content/22-1-student-teacher-cap-may-be-increased. Retrieved June 14, 2011. Dexheimer, E. (2009, March 19). The high cost of TAKS. Http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/investigative/entries/2009/03/19/the_high_cost_of_taks.html. Retrieved June 13, 2011. Houston ISD, HISD Media Relations Department. (2011, April 14). Teacher Appraisal and Development System Wins Initial Approval [Press release]. Retrieved June 14, 2011, from http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectEnglish/Images/PDF/BOEM_041411_PR.pdf Apollo Expeditions to the Moon: Chapter 13 [Interview by J. A. Lovell]. (n.d.). Retrieved June 14, 2011, from http://history.nasa.gov/SP-350/ch-13-1.html 13