1. Weslaco East High School
Welcome to
Weslaco East High School
Class of 2015

2. Staar Weslaco ISD The Next Generation of Assessment
Dr. Richard Rivera,
Superintendent of Schools
[adapted from a TEA presentation with graphics from Region 1 ESC]

3. State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR)
Will begin this school year ( )
A new test design will focus on readiness for success in subsequent grades or courses and, ultimately, for college and career.

4. End-of-Course
3-8

5. Implemented in 2011-2012 School Year
STAAR Assessments for Grades 3-8 will be administered on paper only.
3-8 mathematics
3-8 reading
4 and 7 writing
5 and 8 science
8 social studies
Grade 3 Answer Documents:
STAAR grade 3 mathematics and
reading assessments will include
a separate answer document;
students will no longer record
their answers in a scorable test
booklet.

6. STAAR End-of-Course High School Assessments
STAAR Assessments at high school include 12 end-of-course assessments, which are required for graduation and will be offered in both online and paper formats: English I, English II, English III Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II Biology, Chemistry, Physics World Geography, World History, U.S. History
Starts in School Year With Entering 9th Graders

7. TAKS to STAAR Transition
Plan for phase-out of TAKS and phase-in of STAAR
Grade
2011–2012
2012–2013
2013–2014
2014–2015
2015–2016
GR 3–8
STAAR
GR 9
Repeating
9th Graders
NONE ALLOWED
May take EOC only if TEA assigns campus to the mandatory sample
GR 10
TAKS
GR 11
Re-Test
GR 12 &
Out-of-School
Students
or TAKS

8. Time Limit
There will be a 4-hour time limit for all STAAR 3-8 & STAAR EOC assessments in Spring Students with unique learning needs or circumstances may receive extended time.
Rationale: Based on educator feedback, TEA chose to align Texas’ testing policies with other state and national assessments to better prepare students for timed tests such as SAT, ACT, and AP.

9. High School STAAR/STAAR Modified EOC Assessments
STAAR Testing Calendar for Spring 2012
January 9 – April 20, 2012: STAAR Alternate window
Date
High School STAAR/STAAR Modified EOC Assessments
March 26
English 1 Writing & English 3 Writing
March 27
English 1Reading & English 3 Reading
March 28
English 2 Writing
March 29
English 2 Reading
By March 30
Complete all make-up sessions for March 26 – 29 assessments
Assessment Window
May 7 – 18
May 15: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2
May 16: Biology
May 17: World Geography
By Saturday,
May 19
Complete all make-up sessions for
May 7 – 18 assessments

10. STAAR PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Students must reach at least the minimum score. Minimum scores and performance standards will not be determined until February 2012 (for EOCs) & October 2012 (for 3-8 assessments).
PERFORMANCE
NOT PASSING
Level I: Unsatisfactory Academic Performance
PASSING
Level II: Satisfactory Academic Performance
HIGH
Level III:
Advanced Academic Performance
MINIMUM SCORE

11. Sample for demonstration purposes Only:
English I EOC 800 (minimum score) English II EOC 800 (minimum score) English III EOC 800 (minimum score) Composite 2400 Required 3000 This student would NOT meet graduation requirements

12. STAAR End-of-Course High School Assessments
Testing requirements for graduation will significantly increase. While Exit Level TAKS represented 4 “hurdles” for students, STAAR represents 12 hurdles for students taking the recommended high school program. 12 STAAR end-of-course tests replace 10 TAKS grade-level tests.
To graduate under STAAR, a student must receive a satisfactory cumulative score on the 3 EOC assessments within each content area (English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies). A student must perform satisfactorily in each of the 4 content areas.

13. STAAR End-of-Course High School Assessments
In addition to meeting cumulative score requirement in
each of four core content areas, students on the
recommended high school program graduation plan
must achieve Level II: Satisfactory Academic
Performance on –
Algebra II EOC assessment
English III EOC assessment

14. STAAR End-of-Course High School Assessments
In addition to meeting cumulative score requirement in
each of four core content areas, students on the
distinguished achievement program graduation plan
must achieve Level III: Advanced Academic
Performance (postsecondary readiness) on –
Algebra II assessment
English III assessment

15. STAAR End-of-Course High School Assessments
A student who passes a high school course but who does not pass the corresponding EOC assessment is not required to retake the course.
School districts are required to provide “accelerated instruction” to each student who fails an EOC assessment. Districts must determine the “accelerated instruction” options they will provide.

16. Implications for high school grading policies
Current law states that a student’s score on every EOC assessment must be worth 15% of a student’s final grade for that course.
In Texas, grading policies are determined and implemented at the district level. TEA does not have the authority to mandate how final grades are determined, or how they are factored in to students’ GPA.
Weslaco ISD’s High School STAAR Committee recommended the following: Each initial EOC score will not factor in to the first-semester course grade; it will, however, be worth 30% of the second-semester course grade. This is equivalent to 15% of a student’s final grade for the course.

17. Sample
1st 6 wks 85 2nd 6 wks 85 3rd 6 wks 85 Exam 85 1st semester grade 85 4th 6 wks 80 5th 6 wks 80 6th 6 wks 80 (avg for 6wks 80 x .70 = 56) EOC 70 (70 x .30 = 21) 2nd semester grade = 77 Yearly avg = 162/2 = 81

18. Sample
1st sem 85 4th, 5th, 6th 6 wks avg = 165/2 = x .85 = EOC 70 x .15 = = 80.6 or 81

19. Implications for high school grading policies
The current law states that a student may re-take an EOC assessment for any reason at any scheduled test administration, including students who want to re-test to meet recommended and distinguished graduation plan requirements. In the future, TEA plans to administer the EOC re- tests in December, May, and July.
Districts are not required to recalculate a student’s final grade for a course using EOC re-test scores.
Weslaco ISD’s High School STAAR Committee recommended that only initial EOC scores will affect student’s’ course grades. EOC re-test scores will not be calculated into course grades or GPA.

20. EOC Requirements for Each High School Graduation Plan
Subject
Minimum Plan
8 EOCs Required
Recommended Plan
12 EOCs Required
Distinguished Plan
English I
English II
English III X
Algebra I
Geometry
Algebra II
World Geography
U.S. History
World History
Biology
Chemistry
Physics

21. Summary
All EOC exams are IMPORTANT Students may retest as many times as they wish but only the first test will be counted in their grade point average (GPA) which is used to determine class rank Parents must be aware of the EOC exam scores for every test and scores will NOT be available until after June 8 If a student scores below the minimum score they MUST retest, if they score the minimum score they SHOULD retest Call your student’s counselor or Mrs. Peterson if you have any questions