New State Assessment System: STAAR

All Texas public school districts will see significant changes in the state assessment program next year, including a new name: STAAR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness). STAAR will be more rigorous than the current TAKS tests, which have been in place since 2003.

STAAR will be a more difficult assessment than TAKS because the program emphasizes the College and Career Readiness Standards within the state curriculum standards, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The TEKS are in two categories: Readiness Standards and Supporting Standards.

Readiness Standards are defined as standards that:
(1) are essential for success in the current grade or course
(2) are important for preparedness for the next grade or course
(3) support college and career readiness
(4) necessitate in-depth instruction
(5) address broad and deep ideas

Supporting Standards are defined as standards that:
(1) are emphasized in a previous year and in a subsequent year
(2) play a role in preparing students for the next grade or course
(3) are aligned to and support the readiness standards.

Students in grades 3-8 will take STAAR instead of TAKS. STAAR tests will be given in the same grade and subject levels as TAKS tests beginning in 2011-2012.

High school students will transition to STAAR EOC (End-of-Course) beginning with ninth graders during the 2011-2012 school year. A total of 12 EOC exams will assess the four core areas of English/Language Arts, math, science, and social studies in the courses indicated on the chart. These tests will assess only TEKS taught in a given course. Due to the emphasis on Readiness Standards, the STAAR EOC exams will be a more difficult assessment than TAKS.

Middle school students who take the high school courses listed in the chart will take the EOC exams in middle school.

New Accountability System

With the new testing program comes a new accountability system. Currently, the agency is in the process of finalizing the system. Student performance will be measured on passing standards, college-readiness standards and career readiness standards.

However, to be labeled as "recognized" or "exemplary," districts and campuses will be required to go beyond the passing standards. The system's long-term goal is to have our state rank nationally in the top ten states on the following measures:

• Percent of college-ready
• Percent of students graduating under the recommended or advanced high school program.

We will continue to monitor the state's plans for the new accountability system since the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is still working on the implementation of the assessment program and accountability system. At this point, what we do know is the implementation schedule:

• Fall 2011: Last accountability ratings based on TAKS
• 2011-2012: First year for STAAR
• Fall 2012: No new accountability ratings; schools and districts maintain 2011 ratings
• 2012-2013: Second year for STAAR
• Fall 2013: First ratings under new accountability system with STAAR

Whatever changes are made to the Texas assessment program and accountability system, we in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District will continue to focus on high achievement for all students.



Where C-FB ISD Is In 2011-2012 Budget Process

The district has been working on its 2011-2012 budget ever since the 2010-2011 budget was adopted last August. Now that may sound strange, but it's true. Once, the School Board approves the current school year's budget, we start working on the next one.

The district staff takes to heart the strategic objective "continuously improve operational effectiveness." We are always looking for ways to hold the line on costs while improving student achievement.

Over the last three budget years, the district has worked hard to contain costs while at the same time improve student achievement.  For example, this year, the district closed Montgomery Elementary School and a pre-kindergarten center.  We moved Montgomery students into Dave Blair Elementary, and we returned the pre-kindergarten program back to the elementary schools.

We increased class sizes at grade 5 as well as at the middle and high schools plus we eliminated administrative and non-classroom positions.

We have reduced our staff by 239 positions which is a 7.08% decrease over the last three years. These reductions have occurred through attrition and retirements.

Although we know that early childhood education program impacts learning, the district returned its pre-kindergarten program from a full-day to a half-day program in 2009-2010 because the state only funds a half-day program.

C-FB ISD has implemented operational strategies to save money.  We renegotiated utility contracts to save money and turned to energy-conservation methods. We have moved other operations to online processes to save money and time. For example, our teacher and administrative contracts are now paperless. This change saves printing costs and much more.

A huge obstacle in finalizing the 2011-2012 budget is not knowing how the Texas Legislature will handle the major shortfalls in projected funding over the next two years or how the bills under consideration will impact C-FB ISD's funding.  Although the legislative landscape changes frequently, third party estimates range from $15 million to $44 million in revenue losses for C-FB ISD in the bills currently under discussion.

As I wrote in February, we have been preparing for the worst-case scenarios of limited school funding, and reports out of Austin are extremely gloomy. Based on our long-term sound fiscal management, we believe we can defer immediate major changes in current staffing patterns or signature instructional programs for 2011-2012 and rely on accumulated reserves. However, we must continue to work at minimizing next year’s deficit so we are looking everywhere and anywhere to reduce costs.

The current budget proposal for the upcoming year does not include an increase in compensation for C-FB ISD employees. And, as a position becomes open due to a resignation or retirement, we are evaluating whether to fill the position or leave it vacant.  All departments are looking for ways to reduce costs.

We know that the changes being made will impact our students. But, these reductions and others are necessary to adjust to a reduced funding level. Hopefully, the Texas Legislature will come to some final decisions soon.  Until then, C-FB ISD will continue working to provide the best programs with the resources available to us. We will remain committed our one goal: high achievement for all students.

Life in C-FB ISD

Our main focus in C-FB ISD is high achievement for all students, and most of my week is spent interacting with teachers and principals.  On most Wednesdays, my calendar is blocked out as Campus Day.  That means, I am out in our schools, walking the halls, going in classrooms to see what our students are learning.

I believe that as the leader of C-FB ISD, it is important that I spend my time with our teachers and principals and with our main customers -- students.  We have great teachers and principals -- they truly understand today's learner.  When possible, our school principals join me at community speaking engagements so they can share stories about their campuses.

At recent Irving presentations, Ranchview principal David Hicks, Barbara Bush principal Matt Warnock and Las Colinas principal Abby McCone joined me to talk about the academic, fine arts and athletic achievements at their campuses.  Many in our community may not realize that C-FB ISD serves six communities - Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Irving, Coppell, Addison and Dallas. As you can see from this image, 14% of our students reside in the City of Irving. In fact, we have six schools within the city limits of Irving.  They are:

• Ranchview High School
• Barbara Bush Middle School
• Las Colinas Elementary School
• Tom Landry Elementary School
• Bernice Chatman Freeman Elementary School
• La Villita Elementary School

Las Colinas, Barbara Bush and Ranchview offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) program from kindergarten through grade 12.  Our district is one of 146 elite districts and schools in the world that offer an IB continuum from kindergarten through grade 12.  And, C-FB ISD is the second public school district in North Texas to offer IB in elementary, middle and high school.

R. E. Good Elementary in Carrollton was the district’s first IB school.  Good was the first elementary school in North Texas to receive IB primary years programme authorization in March 2008.

I also share with community groups that C-FB ISD is an innovative leader in learning.  Being innovative is what sets our district apart from other public school districts.  Offering innovative programs such as IB and specialized academies in our high schools helps us meet our vision.

Thoughts About Previous Posts

Share Your Stories

Last week, I wrote about the importance of sharing your stories with us.  Since that posting, we have added stories to http://www.cfbisd.edu/ on our Testimonial Pages, on our Vimeo channel and YouTube.  I hope you check them out.  Thanks to those who have shared their stories with us.

We are always looking for stories. So, if you meant to submit your story, here's a reminder; we simply ask you to limit your story to less than 250 words.Share Your Story Form

First Online Annual Report
Thank you to everyone who has viewed the district's online annual report.  We have received positive comments about the first online comprehensive annual report.  However, we know that the world is a busy place, and we want to remind you that the annual report  has been developed so that you can get a glimpse of how your school district is doing.

And, finally last week was especially busy for the students, teachers, principals in C-FB ISD.  Thank you for your efforts on the state-mandated TAKS.  We in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District have one goal:  high achievement for all students.