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.