"If you serve a child a rotten hamburger in America, federal, state and local agencies will investigate you, summon you, close you down, whatever.  But if you provide a child with a rotten education, nothing happens, except that you're liable to be given more money to do it with." -- President Reagan

February 14, 2008

Media Contact: Charlie Garza
915/ 630-2427

Garza Dedicated to Being the Voice of Educators

EL PASO – The sky is falling, the sky is falling…that appears to be the mantra espoused by the state's legislators.

As a result, Texas has established a system of educational accountability that relies on a standardized test (TAKS) as the only gage to measure a student's performance. It is believed by its proponents that this system holds teachers and administrators accountable and that the end result is increased student achievement. 

"If it were only that easy," said Carlos "Charlie" Garza, a candidate for the Texas House 75^th district and a CISD Assistant Principal.  "The fact of the matter is the state is inherently ill equipped to know what is best for students at the local level and to make decisions about individual students."

During the 80^th legislative session alone a briefing book consisting of 147 pages was published for administrators.

"What is disturbing is that fact that many of the laws were unfunded mandates that take teachers and administrators away from teaching the students and promoting academic achievement," remarked Garza.  "Policy makers have created wide-ranging differences between schools and have implemented a 'one size fits all' approach via standardized testing."

Garza's vision for improving education includes establishing a Coalition for Accurate Reform in Education (CARE) spearheaded by the existing regional service centers. Under the guidance of CARE, school districts and schools will be able to tailor the guidelines already in effect to their unique student population, as well as to the particularities of their local economies.

"CARE is designed to supplement but not replace site based management," said Garza. 

Upon arrival in Austin, Garza plans to submit a bill that would allow an accountability system premised on multiple criteria. The bill would mirror the college-admissions process whereby decisions are based on multiple factors one of which is the standardized test.

"I reject the premise that a one day snap-shot via the TAKS test can tell you all that you need to know about a student's academic skill." 

Garza explained that the standard in education today is to use research based strategies as the only means to improve academic achievement. However, Garza notes that this means of measurement has shown to be ineffective, citing evidence proving standardized testing instills anxiety in even the smartest of students.

Garza contends that legislators do not understand how hard teachers work and how much money is exhausted on training educators to meet the standards and expectations they legislate.   

"Quite frankly, I am saddened at the inference by the state that local education agencies and teachers are at fault. We need an educator in Austin to fix the current problems and perceptions. We need to make sure that "No Legislator is Left Behind."