For Immediate Distribution
March 31, 2015
Contact: Cameron Petty
Phone: 512-215-9105
Email: Cameron@texaseducationreform.org
TIER Joins Parents, Administrators, and Business Leaders to Support
Representative Howard’s College Preparation Assessments Budget Amendment
Austin – The Texas Institute for Education Reform (TIER) circulated a letter of support today for a budget
amendment by Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin) that would allow the state’s assessment funding to include
nationally recognized norm-referenced college preparation tests.
TIER is joined by a host of organizations including: Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), Texans
Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment (TAMSA), Texas Business Leadership Council (TBLC), Texas
Association of School Administrators (TASA), Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), Texas Association of
Community Schools (TACS), as well as superintendents from urban, suburban and rural districts.
“College and career readiness is the primary goal of the public education system. The statewide data from
these assessments will help legislators, the Commissioner of Education, and the Commissioner of Higher
Education analyze state policies and programs so that all decision-makers are better informed to make this
goal a reality.” Courtney Boswell, Executive Director, TIER.
Boswell added, “Meeting the current and future workforce needs is essential for the future of our state’s
economy, and graduating students equipped for success in college or the workforce is TIER’s top priority. This
amendment allows for greater flexibility in assessments, while protecting the state’s need to validate student
achievement and college readiness. This amendment has broad support, and TIER is excited to band together
with these organizations to do what is best for Texas students.”
About TIER
Founded in 2006, TIER is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to improving public education for
each and every Texas student. Through its leaders and advisors, TIER has access to the nation’s
leading education policy expertise, the best minds in the country, and will use these resources to bring to bear
on the Texas reform effort the best available research-based strategies, benchmarked practices, and policy
innovations.