State Testing Program Update Sharon Nobis CHHS Assistant Principal Grapevine-Colleyville ISD November 7, 2011

STAAR End-of-Course Exams 2 Phase out of TAKS: In Spring 2012, students in 10 th and 11 th grade will participate in TAKS. In Spring 2013, the last group of 11 th grade students will participate in TAKS. Phase in of End-of-Course exams: Beginning in Spring 2012, end-of-course exams will be administered to first-time 9 th grade students. Middle school students taking Algebra, Geometry or Algebra II will take the end-of- course exam associated with the course.

Twelve STAAR End-of-Course Exams 3 EnglishMathScienceSocial Studies English IAlgebra IBiology World Geography English IIGeometryChemistryWorld History English IIIAlgebra IIPhysicsU.S. History

STAAR Graduation Requirements 4 Freshman class of 2011–2012 is the first class to have EOC assessments as part of their graduation requirement.

History of Testing in Texas Texas Assessment of Basic Skills (TABS) Assessed basic skills in math, reading, and writing. Administered to students in grades 3, 5, & 9. No diploma denial for failing TABS at grade 9. No state-mandated remedial support for failing students. No state-mandated curriculum on which to base assessment.

History of Testing in Texas Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills (TEAMS) 1986–1990 Assessed basic skills in math, reading, and writing. More skills assessed, increasing the rigor of the state testing program. Expanded testing to grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 (exit). Satisfactory performance on the exit level tests required to receive a high school diploma. Mandatory remedial support and retests for students failing one or more exit level tests. Based on the Essential Elements, the state-mandated curriculum adopted in 1984.

History of Testing in Texas Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) 1990–2002 Assessed academic skills in math and reading in grades 3, 5, 7, 9 & 11; writing, science, and social studies at certain elementary/middle school checkpoints. Added Spanish tests at grades 3-6 in 1996 and Emphasized problem-solving skills. Required students to write a minimal composition.

History of Testing in Texas Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) 1990–2002, continued In 1994, changed testing from grades 3, 5, 7, 9, & 11 to grades 3–8 & 10 (exit), shifting the graduation requirement from grade 11 to grade 10. Initial development based on the Essential Elements, but transitioned to items based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills in End-of-course assessments in Algebra I, biology, English II, and U.S. history available as optional method for meeting graduation requirements.

History of Testing in Texas Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) 2003–Present Assesses math, reading, writing, English language arts, science, and social studies across grades. Assesses a wide range of knowledge and skills, from foundational to complex, that are most critical to students’ academic learning and progress. Added promotion requirements at grades 3, 5, and 8 in reading and/or mathematics. Added science and social studies to the exit level testing requirement and shifted exit level from grade 10 to grade 11.

History of Testing in Texas State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) 2012 and Beyond STAAR assessments in grades 3-8 o Mathematics and reading (grades 3-8) o Writing (grades 4 & 7) o Science (grades 5 & 8) o Social Studies (grade 8) 12 End of course exams o English I, II, and III o Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II o Biology, Chemistry, Physics o World Geography, Word History, U.S. History

History of Testing in Texas State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) 2012 and Beyond Measure a broader range of achievement with standards vertically aligned across grades. Focus on educating students to a postsecondary readiness standard and ensuring that the state assessment program is designed to measure postsecondary readiness.

Sample Algebra II End Of Course Item (2012)

TAKS to STAAR 18 Plan for phase-out of TAKS and phase-in of STAAR 2010– – – – – –2016 GR 3–8TAKS STAAR GR 9TAKS STAAR GR 10TAKS STAAR GR 11TAKS STAAR GR 12 & Out-of-School Students TAKS STAAR or TAKS STAAR or TAKS

STAAR Graduation Requirements 19 Freshman class of 2011–2012 is first group to have EOC assessments as part of their graduation requirement.

STAAR Graduation Requirements 20 A student must achieve a state-determined cumulative score for each area (English, math, science, and social studies). The cumulative score shall be greater than or equal to the product of the number of EOC assessments taken in that content area and a scale score that indicates satisfactory performance. For each of the four core content areas, the cumulative score ≥ n x passing scale score, where n = number of assessments taken.

21 MINIMUM SCORE In addition to meeting cumulative score requirements, a student must achieve a minimum score on each end of course exam for the score to count towards the student’s cumulative score. Minimum scores are determined by Texas Commissioner of Education. STAAR Graduation Requirements

22 Let’s say that the cumulative score for science is 3000 points. [3 tests (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) at 1000 points each] In addition, the minimum scale score on each of the 3 science EOC assessments happens to be 900. A students must score at least 900 on each of the 3 science EOC assessments. Scoring 900 on each of the 3 science EOC assessments will not meet the cumulative score requirement of 3000.

STAAR Graduation Requirements 23 A student scores o 1200 on Biology o 800 on Chemistry o 1100 on Physics 800 does not meet the minimum score requirement of 900. It cannot be used towards the cumulative score. The student’s cumulative score is 2300, which does not meet the cumulative score requirement of The student must retest in chemistry.

STAAR Graduation Requirements 24 A student scores o 950 on Biology o 1000 on Chemistry o 900 on Physics The student’s cumulative score is does not meet the cumulative score requirement of 3000; therefore the student must retest. The student can retest in one or more subjects.

STAAR Graduation Requirements 25 o Texas students graduate on one of three plans 1.Minimum High School Program 2.Recommended High School Program 3.Distinguished Achievement Program o State testing requirements differ by graduation program.

STAAR Graduation Requirements: Minimum High School Program 26 Cumulative score is based on the number of courses taken for which an EOC assessment exists. Cumulative score requirement may vary by subject area from 1 to 3 required assessments. o 3 for English language arts (English I, English II, English III) o 2* for mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry) o 1* for science (Biology) o 2* for social studies (U.S. History, World Geography or World History) * Based on minimum program requirements

27 Meet the cumulative score requirement in each of the four core content areas and Meet a specific performance standard on two EOC exams: o English III o Algebra II STAAR Graduation Requirements: Recommended High School Program

STAAR Graduation Requirements: Distinguished Achievement Program 28 Meet the cumulative score requirement in each of the four core content areas and Perform satisfactorily on the college-readiness component for two EOC exams: o English III o Algebra II

STAAR Graduation Requirements 29 If a student does not achieve the minimum score on an EOC assessment, the student shall retake the assessment. If a student does not perform satisfactorily on the college-readiness component of the EOC assessments for English III or Algebra II, the student may retake the assessment.

STAAR Graduation Requirements 30 A student is not required to retake a course as a condition of retaking an EOC assessment. A school district shall provide accelerated instruction to each student who fails to perform satisfactorily on an EOC assessment.

STAAR Graduation Requirements 31 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 subsequent administrations to determine the student’s final grade for that course.

STAAR Graduation Requirements 32 For middle school students who take a high school course (e.g., Algebra I) prior to spring 2012, TEA is considering several options. o Students would not be required to take that particular EOC assessment. Their cumulative score for that content area would decrease. o 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 benefitted the students.

Additional Resources > Departments and Programs > Assessment, Research and Evaluation. o Links to the latest information about STAAR o STAAR Brochures o Graduation Requirements o Presentation materials > Testing / Accountability o Sample questions o Blueprints o Graduation information