The Texas Education Agency has made a big change to STAAR testing for the 2014-2015 school year.
The agency said Friday that the math assessments for grades 5 and 8 will be given just once this year. The Student Success Initiative requirement that those students pass the math portion of STAAR has been suspended for the year. Continue reading
A group of HISD bus drivers were full of joy and excitement during an event held Friday that celebrated their role in having the best attendance during STARR testing week.
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HISD trustees heard a detailed update Thursday of dozens of new laws from the 83rd session of the Texas Legislature, but the focus was on one new measure – House Bill 5 – that will make huge changes in Texas graduation requirements beginning with current ninth- and 10th-graders.
The session was presented by HISD counsel David Thompson, who serves as one of the district’s legislative liaisons.
HB 5 reduces the number of STAAR end-of-course exams that must be passed for graduation from 15 to 5 and requires students to select a personal graduation plan between a basic “foundation” course of study and a more rigorous “distinguished” diploma that increases their chances for admission to four-year Texas public universities and state grants.
Smooth-running, secure STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) testing was the focus of three days of training at Forest Brook Middle School last week for 604 educators from HISD campuses.
The Leadership Development Department teamed up with representatives from Student Assessment, Multilingual Programs, and Special Education to offer practical exercises for those involved in the testing at all grade levels, both veterans and newcomers.
The days before school starts can be overwhelming for parents, so we’ve compiled the top 10 things they need to know before classes begin.
School ratings are changing under a new accountability system that takes effect this year. The Texas Education Agency ratings will take into account a larger number of measures rather than being dependent on a single factor such as TAKS scores. Continue reading
On Monday, June 10, Governor Perry signed House Bill 5 into law. The bill dramatically revises the number of high school student assessments required for graduation as well as overall graduation plans in Texas.
“HISD students will now only be required to pass five end-of-course exams to earn a diploma rather than the 15 exams that were previously required,” said HISD Government Relations Director Veronica Garcia.
HISD parents of students in select grades will be receiving a portion of their child’s STAAR exam results over the next week. The Texas Education Agency has released STAAR reading and math scores for students in the fifth and eighth grades only.
HISD elementary and middle schools are now currently distributing the scores to parents and students as well as informing them about the accelerated instruction and intervention resources that will be made available to those who failed one or both subjects. Fifth and eighth grade students who failed the reading and/or math portions of STAAR will retake one or both STAAR exams on May 14 and 15.
The TEA is making results for fifth and eighth graders available earlier than others because students in those grades must pass the math and reading sections to be promoted. All other STAAR subject results for student in grades 3-8 will be released by the TEA and distributed by HISD to students and parents on or before May 31. Ninth and tenth grade students will take STAAR end of course exams from May 6-17. EOC scores will be released to the TEA and distributed to HISD students and parents on or before June 14.
This is the second year students in grades 3-10 are taking the STAAR exam, and unlike last year STAAR scores in certain subjects can determine whether or not a child is promoted to the next grade. See below for a full list of promotion standards for the 2012-2013 school year.
| Grade Level | Promotion Standards |
| 1 and 2 |
|
| 3, 4 and 5 |
|
| 6, 7 and 8 |
|
| 9 – 12 |
|
*Sufficient attendance: A student’s total number of unexcused absences cannot exceed 10% of class meetings.
For English Language Learners, the Grade Placement Committee (GPC) in consultation with the Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) will determine promotion standards.
For students with disabilities, the campus ARD/IEP committee will determine the promotion status based on mastery of IEP goals and objectives and /or course requirements.
If your child does not meet Promotion Standards, your school will contact you for further opportunities to receive additional instruction.
HISD schools across the district are doing their part to get students prepared and pumped up for the upcoming STAAR exam. At Neff Elementary, Principal Rupak Gandhi and his teachers have been practicing their dance moves for an upcoming STAAR pep rally that they hope will encourage students to do their best. Over the past few weeks, members of the school’s fine arts team have spent their ancillary periods and after-school hours creating a fun “Gangnam Style” video that they will show at the campus rally on Monday, April 22, 2013. Students in grades three through eight will take STAAR April 23–26.
“We wanted to do something fun that would not only motivate our students to do well, but would involve the entire staff,” said Gandhi. In the video, entitled “Neff STAAR Style,” Gandhi breaks out his best dance moves and so do the school’s custodians, food services workers, and students.
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Schools holding tutorials and competitions to prepare for exam
Westside High School students prepare for STAAR testing. Click photo to see Austin High School's STAAR efforts.
HISD students and teachers across the district are getting the word out about the upcoming STAAR exam, and some are using their creative and artistic side. Over at Austin High School students and staff formed teams to compete in a hallway decorating contest to see who could create and design the best STAAR display. Some of the themes included Godzilla, Mario Brothers and even Hollywood.