Testimony of Chris Hammons, PhD, before the SBOE

Bring Home the Mississippi Miracle: A Texas Triumph in Early Literacy

Bring Home the Mississippi Miracle: A Texas Triumph in Early Literacy Texas lacks a coherent third-grade literacy standard and statewide implementation system. Restoring a mastery-based promotion gate and aligning coaching, screening, and funding can reverse stagnating reading outcomes. Key points: Texas removed its third-grade promotion requirement, weakening the connection between reading mastery and grade advancement....

Who’s Serving Who? Controversy Swirls Around Education Foundations

In Texas, education foundations are supposed to support public school districts through fundraising, making donations, and offering other supportive services. However, as documented in a recent report, these foundations sometimes blur the line when it comes to their own operations and the districts they serve. In a few cases, troubling evidence shows that they’ve grown...

Making History: Texas SBOE to Decide on Social Studies Revisions

During the week of June 22, the State Board of Education is expected to approve the revisions to the Social Studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). This revision a major reform to how history is taught to Texas students, replacing a model where Texas, American, and World history were presented as isolated subjects and...