LONESTARP3 Policy Perspectives, Evolution of Testing and College and Career Readiness in Texas & Dual-Credit Dosage
Breakout Sessions
LONESTARP3 Policy Perspectives
Priscilla Aquino-Garza, Senior Director, Policy & Programs, Educate Texas
Katrina Fraser, Director, Postsecondary Education Policy, Commit Partnership
The 89th Texas Legislative session included the passage of bills to support great teachers, high-quality instruction and better learning outcomes. Together, we’ll consider how those bills will affect Texans, what’s in store for the 90th legislative session in 2027, and how YOU can support our education advocacy partners.
Evolution of Testing and College and Career Readiness in Texas
Bridget Worley, Chief State Impact Officer, Commit Partnership
Trista Bishop-Watt, Director, Government Relations, Good Reason Houston
Join us for an update on recent legislative changes in Texas K12 assessment and accountability. Hear about how the STAAR exam will transition to a through-year model with three shorter tests, where the end-of-year exam counts for ratings but all provide data teachers and parents can use to monitor growth and inform instruction. Learn about changes to College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) measures as part of the five-year refresh of the A-F accountability formula, including changes that weight the strength of each indicator’s correlation with successful outcomes. Consider the implications for course planning, advising, and program design, and adjustments needed for instruction and pathways to align with these new policies.
Dual-Credit Dosage: Examining Student Profiles and School Structures
Matt Giani, Research Associate Professor, College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin
Dual-credit takes diverse forms, from “random acts of dual-credit” to early college high school (ECHS) models where students earn associate degrees. But what are the most common dual-credit pathways or profiles, and how do these student-level profiles relate to school structures, such as College and Career Ready School Models (CCRSM)? This presentation will discuss preliminary findings examining students’ dual-credit profiles, how they relate to students’ demographic and academic characteristics and the types of schools students attend, and how they have evolved over time. The research uses TERC data on cohorts of high school graduates from 2014-2023.
