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Sat, 15 Jul 2023 16:01:47 GMT (1689436907113)
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AUSTIN, Texas — Texas lawmakers have taken the first steps in eliminating Texas’ standardized testing. The Texas House gave an almost unanimous initial approval of House Bill 4 that would get rid of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test, or STAAR, on Monday.
The STAAR test is a standardized test administered in Texas public schools. It is used to evaluate student and teacher performances and assess the state’s accountability ratings, rated on an A-F scale. Poor scores could result in state sanctions such as a state takeover, which Houston ISD saw in 2023.
HB4 would replace the STAAR test.
The Texas Senate passed a similar bill last month. Both the Texas Senate and the Texas House want to remove the STAAR test with lawmakers claiming the test “leads to anxiety in our classrooms” for teachers and is rigorous for students. HB4 proposes shorter tests to allow for more instruction time and change how students are graded.
The bill still needs to pass in the Texas Senate before heading to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. If passed, the pressure would be on the Texas Education Agency to provide new tests as early as this fall.
Bike to Work Day is coming up Friday, May 16. Fueling stations will be available along your commute, offering treats like coffee, tacos and snacks; CapMetro Bikeshare will offer free passes; group rides will happen; a celebration will be held at City Hall; and afterparty will be hosted by Central Machine Works.
It’s a celebration we endorse and promote at Austin Transportation and Public Works (TPW), because more people bicycling to work means less traffic congestion and air pollution.
Have you considered bicycling to work?
No, we’re not trying to guilt you into it. For many people, biking to work just isn’t realistic — maybe it’s just too far, a hectic personal life won’t permit it, or a physical challenge makes it impossible. We understand.
However, if you have been thinking about trying out a bike for your commute … give it a go! There are many benefits — the exercise can improve your mental and physical health and it’s cheaper than the gasoline, car maintenance and highway tolls.
It will require some preparation, including some things that might not occur to you if you’re more accustomed to driving.
First, of course, you’ll need a bike and helmet. If you don’t already own those, Austin has plenty of bike shops to help find what’s right for you. Also, buy equipment that will allow you to carry what you need, such as saddlebags, a backpack or baskets (some bikes have them built-in).
You may want to consider buying an electric bike (e-bike) — they have a motor that adds power to your pedaling, which can help you go up hills or travel faster or farther. And don’t forget, Austin Energy offers rebates of up to $600 on qualifying e-bike purchases.
Then, plan your trip — if you previously commuted on a highway or major arterial, now you’ll be looking for streets with bike lanes or taking trails. TPW has tools to help you plan your safest and easiest route. The Austin Bike Map is available both online and in print (reach out to austinmobility@austintexas.gov for a copy), featuring color-coding that shows which routes are most comfortable. You can also use the trip planner at GetThereATX.com.
Dress appropriately — make sure you’re comfortable (warm in winter, light and cool in summer, and shoes appropriate for pedaling) and visible. In summer, you might need to shower at the office (if your company offers it) and change into work clothes.
Finally, be safe. Obey traffic laws. Use bike lanes or a trail wherever possible. Be sure to always ride in the same direction as traffic and don’t forget to use your hand signals when turning. And practice defensive driving — make eye contact with motorists and be certain they’re going to stop before heading into an intersection.
Consider these factors when weighing whether bicycling to work is right for you:
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Ease into it. Decide what’s right for you. Maybe every day is too much? Then pick a day that’s your biking day. If the weather is bad, don’t feel pressured to ride — just resolve to try it again on the next nice day so that you don’t fall out of the habit.
Michigan softball is headed to Austin, Texas, for the opening weekend of the 2025 NCAA Softball Tournament. The Wolverines (38-19), who won their second straight Big Ten Tournament on May 10, will open the NCAAs at 2 p.m. May 16 against UCF (ESPN2) in the regional hosted by overall 6-seed Texas.
UCF (33-22-1) finished seventh in the Big 12 before advancing to the conference quarterfinals. The Wolverines and the Knights have some recent NCAA history, with host UCF eliminating U-M in Orlando, Florida, in a 2022 regional final —the last game for the Wolverines under legendary coach Carol Hutchins.
The Longhorns (46-10), who finished third in the SEC and lost in the SEC tournament semifinals, will open against Ohio Valley Conference champion Eastern Illinois (34-20) at approximately 4:30 p.m. May 16.
The winners of those first-round games will play at 1 p.m. May 17 for a spot in the regional final at 1 p.m. May 18, while the losers will play 3:30 p.m. May 17 in an elimination game. The winner of that game faces the loser of May 17’s first game for the second spot in the regional final.
The winner of the Austin regional will face the winner of the Clemson regional (featuring Clemson, USC Upstate, Northwestern and Kentucky) the following weekend in a best-of-three series at the higher seed’s campus for a spot in the Women’s College World Series, which begins May 29 in Oklahoma City.
In their third season under coach Bonnie Stoll, the Wolverines are looking for their first Super Regional berth since 2016. That’s also the last time U-M advanced to the College World Series. Last season, in their first NCAA appearance under Stoll, U-M dropped its NCAA opener in Stillwater, Oklahoma, then won twice to advance to the regional final before losing to host Oklahoma State.
Michigan, making its 31st NCAA tourney appearance (all since 1992), has advanced to the WCWS 12 times in all, with a championship in 2005 and a runner-up finish in 2015.
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