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Top Morning Stories 2/6/12: Perry's Public Return, Testing Foes Sharpen Criticism

Rick Perry and supporters in Iowa. Perry's speech tonight will mark his first public appearance since returning to Texas.
Photo by Ben Philpott for KUT News
Rick Perry and supporters in Iowa. Perry's speech tonight will mark his first public appearance since returning to Texas.

Governor to Speak at Reagan Dinner

Gov. Rick Perry will be the keynote speaker tonight at the annual Williamson County Reagan Dinner.

The fundraising event marks Gov. Perry’s first public appearance since dropping out of the Republican presidential primary. First lady Anita Perry will also be in attendance.

Both a live and silent auction will be held. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. in the ballroom of the Marriott Austin North in Round Rock’s La Frontera development.

Standardized Testing Backlash

Texas Education Agency Commissioner Robert Scott announced last week that standardized testing had become a “perversion of its originalintent.”

In the last legislative session, Texas public schools faced a $5.4 billion cut in state financing. The cuts have caused growing concern over the ability of school districts to meet more stringent standards set by the new State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR exam.

Since his comments, many Texas educators, parents and unions have voiced their opinion on the declining state of student testing.  The Texas Tribune reported just some of the measures some are taking:

In the Panhandle, the Hereford Independent School District superintendent may withhold her district’s test scores from the state. An Austin parent is considering a lawsuit to stop the rollout of the tests. Some legislators are mulling how to postpone some of the tests’ consequences for students.

Deadline for Redistricting
Today is the deadline for a settlement between the attorney general and minority groups in the Texas redistricting case.

A San Antonio federal court had previously said if the parties can't agree on maps, the April 3rd primary will be further delayed while the court draws new ones.

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