STAAR Test Information

STAAR STATE OF TEXAS ASSESSMENTS OF ACADEMIC READINESS

Say hello to STAAR! Beginning 2011-2012, the state's standardized testing program, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) will be replaced by the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). For high school students, End of Course (EOC) tests for certain high school courses will begin replacing TAKS tests in 2011-2012. For grades 3-8, TAKS tests will be replaced by the more rigorous STAAR tests, except students taking TAKS-Alt. These students will be converted to STAAR-Alt. A few highlights:

• 2011-12 9th graders will be the first to take the End of Course tests

• Under the new EOC system, students will be required to pass 12 End of Course exams in order to graduate

• Test scores on each of the required End of Course exams will count for 15% of the student's grade in the course.

Although the details of the new STAAR system are still being worked out by the Texas Education Agency, Beaumont Independent School District is committed to effectively preparing our students and staff for STAAR.   

STUDENT PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

Once students have taken a STAAR assessment they will receive a score indicating their performance. Student performance will fall in to one of the three categories below.

• Level III -- Advanced Academic Performance: Performance in this category indicates that a student is well prepared for the next grade or course.

• Level II -- Satisfactory Academic Performance: Performance in this category indicates that a student is sufficiently prepared for the next grade or course.

• Level I -- Unsatisfactory Academic Performance: Performance in this category indicates that the student is inadequately prepared for the next grade or course.

IMPACT ON GRADE ADVANCEMENT

Students will take STAAR exams for the first time in the spring of the 2012 school year. The Student Success Initiative requires that students in grades 5 and 8 pass both the reading and math exams to be promoted to the next grade. For one year (2011-2012), this requirement will not apply, since cut scores will not be established until after the start of the 2012 school year. The requirement will return in the 2012- 2013 school year. Students in grades 5 and 8 will once again be required to pass STAAR just like TAKS, before being promoted to the next grade level. These students will be given multiple opportunities to retest. High school students will have three opportunities per year (spring, summer, and fall) to take the exams until they meet the passing standards.

IMPACT ON GRADUATION

Beginning with the incoming 9th grade class in 2011-2012, students will take up to 12 EOC assessments listed previously based on their participation in courses (schools determine the sequence of courses in a subject area). Currently, each student must meet a score requirement for all EOC assessments they take in order to graduate. Further, the score on each test will be worth 15% of the student’s final grade. Exact grade calculation will be determined by forthcoming local policy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Click links below)

• http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/ • http://etesttx.com/STAARQandA

Region XIII Parent Video of Frequently Asked Questions

• http://www5.esc13.net/staar/parent_resources.html 

Brochure adapted from information provided by esc13