I believe that my proposal for an expanded assessment program will allow us to set high, but not unattainable, standards. Some critics may balk at the fact that my plan increases the number of state-administered tests. Though the costs will increase under this new proposal, the testing program in Texas constitutes substantially less than 1 percent of all of our spending on public education. Most assuredly, we obtain a wealth of information about the performance of our schools and students for this expenditure on assessment. During my tenure as commissioner, I have fully comprehended that what gets tested gets taught.
Testing is an integral part of the learning process.
All of us are tested every day at work and at home. The state tests our students take in school mirror the curriculum they must learn. When students are learning their daily lessons, they are preparing for tests. However, teaching children the objectives over which they will be tested is fair and appropriate. Assessment is a key component of education because it confirms what we know and points out where we need to learn more.