What 9 th and 10 th Grade Students and Parents Need to Know

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James Dorsey
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1 What 9 th and 10 th Grade Students and Parents Need to Know 1

2 All information in this presentation is current as of December Information presented may change prior to the actual End of Course testing. 2

3 STAAR is a more rigorous standardized testing program that has replaced the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) for elementary, middle, and high school students. The new STAAR program will emphasize 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. 3

4 Students who entered ninth grade in the school year, and all those who follow, will notice the biggest difference in the new high school testing program. With the new STAAR program, the exit-level tests will be replaced with 12 end-ofcourse (EOC) assessments, which students will take as they complete the corresponding course. 4

5 English I, English II, English III (2 parts each, graded separately) Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II Biology, Chemistry, Physics World Geography, World History, U.S. History 5

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7 The end-of-course assessments will only assess the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for a given course, unlike the high school TAKS tests that covered material from multiple courses. The questions on STAAR EOC s will be deeper and more complex than TAKS. 7

8 In reading, greater emphasis will be given to critical analysis rather than to literal understanding. In writing, students will be required to write two essays instead of one, and the English EOC assessments will be administered over two days. There are also field test questions and a 3 rd field test essay. 8

9 English I: Expository and Literary The expository task requires students to clearly explain what they think about something. The literary task is write a story English II Expository and Persuasive The persuasive task requires students to take a position and present a consistent, sustained argument that supports it. 9

10 English III : Analytical and Persuasive The analytical task requires: A combination of expository writing and interpretation of one aspect of a literary or expository text (really a hybrid of writing and reading) Analytical prompts contain a literary or informational text (approximately words), which students must analyze 10

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12 In mathematics and science, the number of openended (griddable) questions have increased to allow students to solve a problem independently. Calculators will be provided for mathematics and science. Students also receive reference materials that provide information such as; formulas, the periodic table, rules, constants and conversions 12

13 There is a four hour time limit to complete the test unless the student obtains a special exception This exception is not available to ALL students 13

14 A student s score on the STAAR EOC assessment will count 15 percent towards the student s final grade in that course. * The 15% Rule has been waived for the school year per The Commissioner of Education. All references in this presentation concerning the 15% Rule will not be in effect.

15 No! TAC 74.26(c), regarding credit for high school graduation, stipulates that credit for courses for high school graduation may be earned only if the student received a grade which is the equivalent of 70 on a scale of 100, based upon the essential knowledge and skills for each course. A student whose final grade for a course is less than the equivalent of a 70 on a scale of 100 may not be given credit for that course, since by law the grade must include the student s score on the EOC assessment. Districts retain the same options that have always been available: (a) to use summer school or other remediation for purposes of allowing the student to reach a passing grade for the course or (b) to take the EOC assessment in subsequent administrations to increase that portion of the final grade. 15

16 If a student passes the course, but does not earn the required minimum score on the EOC assessment, the student must retake the test. The student is not required to retake a course as a condition of retaking the test for that course. The school is required to provide accelerated instruction to each student who fails to perform satisfactorily on any EOC assessment 16

17 Three levels of performance have been set for the STAAR EOC s. The labels for the performance categories are: Level III: Advanced Academic Performance Level II: Satisfactory Academic Performance Level I: Unsatisfactory Academic Performance 17

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19 The scale score required for 2011 and 2012 Freshman is 3500 in any of the mathematics, science or social studies EOC. The scale score required on each section of the English is These are Phase In scores. The final passing standard for subsequent classes will increase. 19

20 In order to graduate, a student must achieve a cumulative score that is at least equal to the product of the number of EOC assessments taken in that subject area and a scale score that indicates Level II: Satisfactory Performance 20

21 3 Social Studies Tests X 3500 (Satisfactory Scale Score) 10,500 Cumulative points required in Social Studies 21

22 A student must achieve a minimum score, as determined by the commissioner, for the score to count towards the student s cumulative score. A student s cumulative score is determined using the student s highest score on each EOC assessment. 22

23 There is a minimum score established that is below Satisfactory Academic Performance (Level II) that will be allowed to be used toward reaching the cumulative total. For example: In Social Studies a score of 3383 was the cut off for Minimum score. This was below the Pass score of 3500, but it CAN be averaged into the cumulative score. 23

24 If a student scores a high score on one of their subsequent tests in that core area, they could still meet the cumulative score requirement. If a student scored anywhere below 3383, they will have a ZERO towards the cumulative required score. 24

Students have the opportunity to retest 3 times per year for any reason.

25 Students are encouraged to retest as soon as possible if it is needed to either pass a test or to raise their cumulative average. Students have the opportunity to retest 3 times per year for any reason. The recalculation of grades (15% rule) because of retesting is dependent upon local district policy. 25

26 What now? If a student did not pass an end-of-course test, he or she will have three opportunities each school year to retake the test. The state does not require the student to retake the class if he or she doesn t pass the test. However, students who failed the test may be asked to attend summer school; they may also need significant instructional intervention and support during the next school year. 26

27 What are the STAAR EOC assessment requirements for the different graduation programs? 27

28 Students who are in tenth grade or below and who are pursuing the Recommended High School Program or the Distinguished Achievement graduation program by law must meet stateadopted standards on 15 end-of-course tests, as well as pass their courses, to earn a Texas high school diploma. Students following the minimum graduation plan must meet state-adopted standards on 11 end-ofcourse tests and pass their courses to graduate. If a student is enrolled in a course not required by their graduation plan, they still have to take and pass the EOC for that course. 28

29 Students graduating under the Minimum High School Program (MHSP) must take STAAR EOC assessments for all courses in which they are enrolled and for which there is a STAAR EOC assessment available and meet a cumulative score requirement in each of the four foundation content areas. It is possible that some students graduating on the minimum plan will need to perform satisfactorily on as few as eight EOC subject areas. 29

30 Students graduating under the Recommended High School Program (RHSP) must take all twelve STAAR EOC assessments (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English I, English II, English III, World Geography, World History, and U.S. History) and meet the cumulative score requirement in each of the four foundation content areas. Additionally, these students must achieve Level II: Satisfactory Academic Performance on the Algebra II and English III assessments in order to receive a diploma under the RHSP. 30

31 Students graduating under the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP) must take all twelve EOC assessments and meet the cumulative score requirement in each of the four foundation content areas. In addition, these students must meet Level III: Advanced Academic Performance, on the Algebra II and English III assessments in order to receive a diploma under the DAP. 31

32 Students may use credit by examination to fulfill their course requirements; however, they are still required to take STAAR EOC assessments to fulfill their graduation requirements. This would apply to correspondence courses, dual credit courses, credit recovery courses: any class that they are receiving high school credit which was taken in Texas outside of a traditional classroom in a Texas Public School. 32

33 There are specific provisions regarding testing for special education students, English Language Learners, Dyslexic students and students who are covered by Americans with Disabilities Act, section 504. Since these are handled on individual case by case incidents they are not covered in this presentation. Please do not hesitate to contact the school about how any of this applies to your child. 33

34 Fewer tests Different cumulative scores Possible inclusion of substitute tests such as SAT 34

For more information about the STAAR program, visit the TEA Student Assessment website at: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.

35 For more information about the STAAR program, visit the TEA Student Assessment website at: staar To track scores: (click families/go to student portal/unique access code and birthdate) 35

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40 We will NOT have scores until after school dismisses in May. (They are due in the district by June 7.) 40

41 Contact your student s teacher regarding course work and preparation Contact the guidance office/counselor/principal regarding graduation plans and credits Contact District or Campus Testing Coordinator concerning testing specifics 41

requirements in each core area There are different testing

42 12 EOC tests starting in all 4 core academic areas EOC s will not count as 15% of course grade There are cumulative score requirements in each core area There are different testing requirements for each graduation plan There is a 4 hour time limit 42

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44 1. Graduation requirements have changed and passing End of Course tests in up to 15 areas are a part of the graduation requirements. 2. Last year s freshmen took the first round of 5 tests in the spring of Students who did not achieve Level 2 will be given the opportunity to retest. There is no limit to retesting, and the highest score always counts. 4. If a student achieved Level 1, but received a Yes on the Met Minimum Score column, they did not pass, but they can use that score towards their cumulative total. This will mean that they will have to score higher than the Level 2 cut score on future tests in that core area. If they did not Meet the Minimum score, then they have zero points in that core area. 5. Even if a student achieved Level 2, there are good reasons to retest, since they must hit a required cumulative score in each core area. If the student scored around the cut off, he might want to retest to build a bigger cushion for the next test. If a student wants to be a distinguished graduate, he might want to retest in mathematics or English to try to come closer to level 3, which will be the required level in Algebra II and English III for a distinguished graduate. 6. This year s 9th and 10 th graders will face another round of End Of Course tests in the Spring. They will have retest opportunities in July. 7. Last year the Commissioner of Education allowed districts to apply for a waiver so that the EOC score did not count as 15% of the student s final grade. This has been waived for the school year as well. 8. Students will continue to have retest opportunities three times a year for any reason. 9. If you have questions about the curriculum to prepare for these tests, please contact your student s teacher. If you have questions about the overall test system and its implications for your student, please contact the Campus or District Testing Coordinator, or your student s Guidance Counselor. 10. This is a legislative year, and since this came to be through legislation, there could be changes made in the spring. Current info Fall

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