Resolution
 

Elimination of Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills

WHEREAS, LULAC is steadfast in its support of education and success; and

WHEREAS, the Texas public school system relies heavily on the TAKS Test (Texas Assessment of Knowledge And Skills) to determine a student’s ability to move forward in his/her quest for higher learning; and

WHEREAS, the State of Texas has one of the highest dropout rates in the country and said the test only serves to perpetuate such problems; and

WHEREAS, Latino students are one of the most under-represented groups in higher education; and

WHEREAS, using the TAKS Test in place of college prep only serves to place a bigger burden on students, teacher, and administrators. Principles spend time trying to look good and manipulate their student classification in order to achieve higher academic scores and vie for awards; and

WHEREAS, said awards are meaningless if our youth are not truly being prepared for college; and

WHEREAS, the manipulation within schools to avoid low scores i.e. cheating has increased and the educational curriculum has been drastically narrowed; and

WHEREAS, ultimately students are being prepared for the TAKS Test but not for higher learning; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that LULAC will follow the lead of the Houston Independent School District, the largest in the state, led by Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra in supporting legislation to eliminate the TAKS Test; and let it be further resolved that LULAC will engage itself in finding and or supporting a better solution to this all too important issue.

Approved this 14th day of July 2007.

Rosa Rosales
LULAC National President