Is Your Child Ready For Post- Secondary Success?

STAAR Assessment

 STAAR is an acronym for State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. It is a more rigorous standardized testing program that replaces TAKS. The new STAAR program emphasizes “readiness” standards, which are the knowledge and skills that are considered most important for success in the grade or subject that follows and for college and career preparation.  In high school, it is a collection of 15 exams. 

Where should my child score NOW to be on track for post-secondary success?   The goal of our state, district, and school is post-secondary readiness for all children – so all students and families should be aiming for Advanced (not just “passing”).  At the least, students should score Level II

Three Different Performance Levels:

ADVANCED (Level III) score indicates your child:

• Exceeded the state standard and is well prepared for the next grade or course. If the student has a YES under “Advance Performance”, the student falls into this category. 

SATISFACTORY (Level II) score indicates your child:

• Met the state standard and is sufficiently prepared for the next grade or course. If the student has a YES under “Satisfactory Performance”, the student falls into this category. 

UNSATISFACTORY (Level I) score indicates your child:

• Did not meet the state standard. If the student has a NO under “Satisfactory Standard”, the student falls into this category. 

Minimum Score

• The Minimum Score is the lowest score that can be used to meet the Cumulative Score Requirement. This is not “Satisfactory Performance.”  Students in this category should attend remediation and are currently required by the district to retest. 

Each student must meet a “Cumulative Score Requirement” in each content area. The sum of each student’s scale score in each content area will be used to calculate a cumulative score.   

Impact of End Of Course Assessments

 Schools can provide grade-appropriate details on how STAAR &EOCs impact students personally – specifically around grade advancement, graduation, diploma type, and post-secondary success. The state requires that each EOC exam count for 15% of the Corresponding Course Grade.  Students taking EOC exams this past year (2011-12) were exempt from this requirement.  (Note to Parents:  BISD will utilize the option to defer until the 2013-2014 school year the requirement that an end-of-course assessment count as 15% of a student’s final course grade; however, other districts may choose to implement the 15% ruling if you decide to move to another district).

Grade Advancement Information

• As early as third grade, STAAR can tell if your child is on track for success in high school, college and beyond.

•  Unlike TAKS – which only tested each subject at each grade level – the new tests are “linked” from grade-to-grade.

•  Specifically in English and math, the tests are designed to predict whether your child is learning the skills he or she will need to thrive in the next grade level – and all the way up to high school graduation and beyond.

High School Graduation Requirements

In High school, the state of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) replaced the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) during the school year 2011-2012 and thereafter. The STAAR End of Course (EOC) Assessments include 15 end-of-course exams. The Texas Legislature mandates end of course assessments are taken in the following content areas:

• Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II
• English I (Reading, Writing), English II (Reading, Writing), English III (Reading, Writing)
• Biology, Chemistry, Physics
• World Geography, World History, United States History 

High School Graduation Plan: 

To graduate, a student must achieve a cumulative score at least equal to the number of assessments taken in the content area according to the student’s graduation plan.

• Minimum Plan (MHSP) – Students on the MHSP, the cumulative score requirement is based on the number of courses for which a STAAR End of Course (EOC) assessment exists.

• Recommended Plan (RHSP) – Students under the RSHP must take all 15 STAAR EOC assessments and meet the cumulative score requirement in each of the five foundation content areas. In addition, these students must achieve Level II: Satisfactory performance on the STAAR EOC assessments in Algebra II and English III (reading and writing) in order to receive a diploma in RHSP. 

• Distinguished Plan (DAP) – Students under the DAP must take all 15 STAAR EOC assessments and meet the cumulative score requirement in each of the five foundation content areas. In addition, these students must meet Level III: Advanced performance standard on the STAAR EOC assessments in Algebra II and English III (reading and writing) in order to receive a diploma under the distinguished achievement plan.

Post Secondary Success:

The concepts learned through curriculum and grade advancement will determine post secondary readiness and success. 

What school and community resources can help my child get to the next level?    Each child has different needs - ask your school to prescribe a unique strategy based on your child’s current achievement level and what it will take for him or her to reach “advanced performance”.  Request school-based student interventions & enrichment opportunities first.  Are resources available during the school day?  Is transportation provided?  Are there additional costs?

BISD STAAR Resources

• STAAR Release Packets (Grades 3 – High School) CSCOPE Packets
• Parent Self-Serve
• STAAR Brochures (General and EOC)
• CSCOPE/STAAR Fridays (BISD Parent Center)
• STAAR Walk-A-Thon
• STAAR Institute (March 2, 2013)                                    
• Campus STAAR Meetings, Events, and Activities
• A Parent’s Guide to Standardized Testing
• Think Through Math
• iStation Reading
• STAAR Tutorials (Select Campuses)
• STAAR Saturdays (Select Campuses) “STAAR …The Next Generation: A Parent’s High School Guide
• Course Offerings and Graduation Requirements Grades 9-12 (available online)                                          

Texas Education Agency STAAR Resources (Online)

Questions and Answers Assessed Curriculum

Overview Blueprints

Performance Standards Mathematics

Test Administration Raw Score Conversion Tables

Presentations Reading (Grades 3–8)

Released Test Questions Science

Social Studies Statewide Summary Reports

Student Expectations Tested Writing and English I, II, III

What should I be doing at home NOW to increase my child’s chances for success?  Ask your school for age-appropriate ways to encourage your child’s learning at home & develop his/ her academic and post-secondary readiness “habits of mind”.  Request school-based parent/family engagement resources that are available at the district and campus level.