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MIDDLE SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS

STAAR™ will include the following middle school assessments:

  • 6th grade Mathematics and Reading
  • 7th grade Mathematics, Reading and Writing
  • 8th grade Mathematics, Reading, Social Studies and Science

MIDDLE SCHOOL

The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR™) will replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) starting in the 2011-2012 school year. STAAR will include assessments in the following grades and subjects at the middle school level:

  • 6th – Mathematics and Reading
  • 7th – Mathematics, Reading and Writing
  • 8th – Mathematics, Reading, Social Studies and Science

What’s different about STAAR™?

STAAR will include more difficult testing and require a higher level of student performance. Assessments will increase in length at most grades and subjects. For reading, greater emphasis will be placed on critical analysis of passages rather than literal understanding. The 7th grade writing test will include three compositions: personal narrative that has a clearly defined focus and communicates the importance of or reasons for actions and/or consequences and multi-paragraph essay to convey information about a topic (also referred to as expository).

On the science and mathematics tests, STAAR will include a type of open-ended question known as a griddable item. The purpose of griddable items is to allow students to develop answers independently without being influenced by answer choices provided with the questions (commonly known as multiple-choice). Most science and mathematics assessments will include three to five griddable items. Illustrations of the test design for grades 3-8 and further explanation about griddable items are available at www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/.

Performance standards for STAAR at grades 3–8 will be set in fall 2012, after the first spring administration of STAAR.

How does STAAR™ affect middle school students enrolled in a high-school level course (e.g. Algebra I)?

Decisions still need to be made by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) concerning middle school students taking high school courses in the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years. TEA is considering several options, including:

  • Students would not be required to take that particular EOC. Their cumulative score for that content area would decrease. (Visit the high school tab for more information about EOC assessments and cumulative score requirements.)
  • Students could choose to take that particular EOC assessment in spring 2012 or beyond. If they take the assessment, the score they receive would only be used in their cumulative score if it benefited the students.

How does STAAR™ affect promotion to the next grade level?

For the 2011-2012 school year only, the Student Success Initiative (SSI) promotion requirements for grades 5 and 8 will not include STAAR results. Students will be assessed for promotion to the next grade by other academic information, such as grades and teacher recommendations. This transition between the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years is necessary since performance standards for STAAR at grades 3-8 will not be set until fall 2012. Grade promotion for grades 4, 6 and 7 is not tied to passing STAAR.

Districts will be required to provide remediation to any student who fails a STAAR assessment, whether in grades 3-8 or high school.