The Learning that's #NotOnTheTest

I have been walking around my district this month and have been truly inspired by the hard work of our teachers and staff. It makes me proud as a superintendent but even prouder as a parent.  It is an honor and privilege to see the 1st But what has been extremely exciting to watch is the innovative instruction that kids are engaged in. The more I walked around and the more I realized.

THIS IS NOT ON THE STATE TEST!!! 

No, the authentic work that I see kids doing will not be measured on the test. The videos that kindergartners are creating explaining why 5-3=2. #NotOnTheTest

• The bridges that 2nd graders designed based on the scientific method. #NotOnTheTest

• The videos that the 5th grade AVP (audio visual production) club made as a part of their monthly school news program. #NotOnTheTest

• The collaboration that our middle school students are doing to teach each other about the high leverage skills in all subjects. #NotOnTheTest

• The food boxes that our science club is packing for families in need. #NotOnTheTest

• The organization and commitment to learning that Google Classroom has created in all of our high school classes. #NotOnTheTest

#NotOnTheTest MUST be Part of Accountability 

State accountability in Texas is predominantly focused on one test on one day, and let's be honest.  Standardized testing is so last century. The needs of this century are truly based on kids having the skills to solve real problems that won't be found on a test by creating products and demonstrating mastery that will help our country address today's issues.  Kids will have to be able to show their comprehension of real stories by creating them through the use of digital media, not by selecting the correct statement that may or may not best represent the correct answer.  

See "I Can’t Answer These Texas Standardized Test Questions About My Own Poems"

Join the #TxEdTuesday Movement

Throughout the spring,  I want to you invite you join Texas and start sharing all the great things happening in your school that will never be measured on a test. Let's tell the world that standardized measurement of schools doesn't tell even half of the story of what a school is truly about.  In fact it doesn't even represent what schools are really doing to prepare kids for tomorrow.

Every Tuesday, share your story with the hashtag, #TxEdTuesday, and if kids are demonstrating learning far beyond a multiple choice test, be sure to add #NotOnTheTest, so everyone can see what your school is all about.

#TxEdTuesday - #TxEd's Opportunity to Tell Its Story

The other day, I was promoting #LoveMySchoolDay which is coming up on April 11, 2017, and  I had a great response from someone in my PLN.

@MrsSargentLGA @MPenermon @GoTigersGrowl @ThePantherWay @LCarrilloNUSD #lovemyschoolday Mark your calendar-but why not now?! https://t.co/eONdheJzF7

— Heather Garcia (@SLSGarciaH) February 1, 2017

So I got to thinking. Why not tell Texas' story right now???

After all, we are in the middle of a very contentious legislative session, and people want to know what we can do right now to positively impact public schools and the legislation that shapes those schools.  Schools need to tell legislators and their communities their story about the great things that Texas Public Schools do every day for kids.

So the next thought that entered my mind was:

• We have #LoveMySchoolDay once a year and 
• We have #CelebrateMonday every Monday.

Why not have a #TxEdTuesday EVERY TUESDAY?

After working with my two fantastic mentors, Kevin Worthy from Royse City ISD and Doug Williams from Sunnyvale ISD, this is what we came up with.

#TxEdTuesday Goal

• Each Tuesday, the goal is to have at least 1000 posts on the #TxEdTuesday hashtag on both Facebook and Twitter. 
• We want to keep the conversation going about what is important for the students served in public schools.

TELL IT

• Tell your school’s story. 
• Tell your legislators THANK YOU for supporting your students, families and teachers. 

TAG IT

• Tag your state representatives and senators to your post.
• Tag your friends around the state to your images.
• ​Tag the #TxEdTuesday hashtag to your message (so everyone following the hashtag can see it).

SHARE IT

• Share and re-tweet positive stories you see from other school districts. 
• Share your support of each other and public education in Texas.

Every Tuesday, I hope that you will take time to make #TxEdTuesday a priority.  Not only will it tell your story.  It will tell your legislators directly what is happening in your school, and more importantly what they can do to better support 5.3 million students.  The one thing that I truly believe about this initiative is this.  

If you don't tell your story, someone else will, and it may not be true or even the story you want told.

See you on #TxEdTuesday!!!