In a renewed effort to tackle underperformance in standardized testing, the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) is embarking on curriculum standardization, a strategy that aims to level the academic playing field across its schools. However, as reported by the San Antonio Report, this initiative is not slated for the upcoming 2024-25 school year due to logistical challenges and concerns about potential disruption to educators.
During a recent meeting where the district faced its “widespread underperformance” head-on, SAISD Superintendent Jaime Aquino discussed the need for increased academic rigor and the use of data to inform classroom instruction, after only a third of students met reading standards and a stark 10% of fifth graders met science standards in the latest STAAR tests. While curriculum standardization is deferred, SAISD is mandating campus leaders adopt a “guaranteed viable curriculum” in the interim according to Aquino, but Board President Christina Martinez questioned the avoidance of disruption, suggesting that perhaps a shake-up is necessary, as reported by San Antonio Report.
The district, meanwhile, is taking immediate action by preparing students for STAAR test question formats, integrating technology into classrooms, and focusing on professional development to target specific deficits. Moving away from the Measurement of Academic Progress assessment, which inadequately reflected student performance, SAISD will utilize the STAAR Interim assessment, a better predictor of actual test outcomes.
Additionally, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is being considered for tasks such as grading to provide timely feedback to students, as suggested by Woodlawn Academy principal Luis De La Garza following this year's unsatisfactory scores. "Kids are going to do writing samples, and we’re going to put together a program, or some kind of overlay, or GPT, that allows AI to grade within the rubric, not by another human, but by a machine, which is what’s going to happen," he said. Moreover, AI may assist in parsing through data to highlight patterns for targeted teacher development, as shared by Superintendent Aquino.
Looking ahead, SAISD is introducing the School Performance Framework, which promises a comprehensive view of school quality that encompasses not only state accountability metrics but also community values in academia, culture, and student support efforts. As per the district, this framework will inform decisions, empower schools, and guide the distribution of resources toward creating more thriving educational environments. Despite the current challenges, SAISD has seen positive strides in subjects like Algebra 1, Biology, English 2, and U.S. History, indicating potential areas of strength on which to build.
