STAAR INFORMATION

Beginning in 2012 the Texas Education Agency (TEA) began a new statewide assessment called "State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness -- STAAR". This assessment is aligned to the current Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). A printed copy of this information is in brochure format in Mrs. Keach's office. Please let us know if you would like a copy. Brochures in English and Spanish can also be found on TEA's website listed below.

GENERAL INFORMATION

STAAR shifts focus to “clearer, fewer, and deeper”.
- Provide a more clearly articulated assessment program
- Focus on fewer skills
- Address skills in a deeper manner
Tests will have a 4 hour time limit
There will be 2 cut scores, which will identify 3 performance categories for the general STAAR assessments.
- Level III: Advanced Academic Performance
- Level II: Satisfactory Academic Performance
- Level I: Unsatisfactory Academic Performance

GRADES 3-8

Tests are in same grades & subjects as TAKS.
- Grades 3-8 mathematics
- Grades 3-8 reading
- Grades 4 and 7 writing
- Grades 5 and 8 science
- Grade 8 social studies
- All assessments will be administered on paper.
Performance Standards for Grades 3-8:
- Standards will be set in October 2012 after first administration in spring 2012.
- Raw score information will be available in late spring 2012.
- First reports with performance standards applied will be available in late fall 2012.
- Pass/Fail performance will not be provided this school year.
- No retest opportunities in 2011-2012.

HIGH SCHOOL

12 End-Of-Course tests replace 10 grade-level tests.
- English I, English II, English III
- Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II
- Biology, Chemistry, Physics
- World Geography, World History, U.S. History
- All 12 EOC assessments will be available in 2011-2012 in both paper and online modes for these students.
Performance Standards for EOC Assessments:
- Standards will be set in February 2012 prior to first high stakes administration in spring 2012.
- First reports with performance standards applied will be available in June 2012.
- First retests will be offered in July 2012.
English III and Algebra II assessments will include a Level III performance standard that indicates post secondary readiness.
Research will be conducted to investigate a post secondary readiness component for science and social studies.
Graduation Requirements:
- Freshman Class of 2011-2012 is the first group to have EOC assessments as part of their graduation requirement.
- A student must achieve a cumulative score that is at least equal to the product of the number of EOC assessments taken in that content area and a Level II scale score.
- A student must achieve a minimum score, as determined by the Texas Commissioner of Education, for the score to count towards the student’s cumulative score.
- A student’s cumulative score is determined using the student’s highest score on each EOC assessment.
- A student’s score on an EOC assessment will be worth 15% of the student’s final grade for that course.
- A school district is not required to use the student’s score on retests to determine the student’s final grade for that course.
- In the future, TEA is planning EOC administrations at the end of Spring, Summer, and Fall.
Graduation Requirements for the Distinguished Achievement Program
- Take all 12 STAAR EOC assessments
- Meet cumulative score requirement in each of the 4 core content areas.
- Achieve Level III: Advanced Academic Performance (post secondary readiness) on English III and Algebra II.
Graduation Requirements for the Recommended High School Program
- Take all 12 STAAR EOC assessments
- Meet cumulative score requirement in each of the 4 core content areas.
- Achieve Level II: Satisfactory Academic Performance on English III and Algebra II.
Graduation Requirements for the Minimum High School Program
- Take STAAR EOC assessments for courses in which they are enrolled & for which an EOC assessment exists (8-12 tests).
- Meet cumulative score requirement in each of the 4 core content areas for courses specifically required on the MHSP (could be as few as 8 tests).
Graduation Requirements for Middle School Students who take a high school course (e.g., Algebra I) prior to Spring 2012 pending local district policy decision:
- Students would not be required to take that particular EOC assessment. Their cumulative score for that content area would decrease.
- Students could choose to take that particular EOC assessment in spring 2012 or beyond. If they take the assessment, the score they receive would only be used in their cumulative score if it benefited the students.
Testing in Spring 2012
- STAAR EOC assessments will be administered in both paper and online formats for:
  - Middle school students enrolled in high school courses that have STAAR as their graduation requirement.
  - First-time grade 9 students who have STAAR as their graduation requirement.
- Middle school students enrolled in a course for which an EOC assessment exists:
  - May not take the corresponding grade-level assessment, pending local district policy decision.
  - Will need to take the EOC assessment.
- First-time Grade 9 students will need to take the STAAR EOC assessments for courses in which they are enrolled.
  - These students will not take TAKS grade 9 tests.
- Repeating Grade 9 students
  - Will not take TAKS grade 9 tests as these tests will not be available.
  - May take only the STAAR EOC assessments (paper or online) for courses in which their campus has been assigned for field testing.
- Grade 10 students
  - Will take TAKS grade 10 tests in ELA, Math, Science & Social Studies.
  - May take only the STAAR EOC assessments (paper or online) for courses in which their campus has been assigned for field testing.
- Grade 11 students
  - Will take the TAKS exit level tests in ELA, Math, Science & Social Studies
  - May take only the STAAR EOC assessments (paper or online) for courses in which their campus has been assigned for field testing.
- Grade 12 students
  - Will take the TAKS exit level tests for those subject areas that they have not yet passed.
  - May take only the STAAR EOC assessments (paper or online) for courses in which their campus has been assigned for field testing.