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Why is my child taking a state assessment ?
How does the ARD committee choose which test to take ?
What are the Participation Requirements for alternate assessments ?
In the state of Texas, until 1997 students receiving special education services were excluded from the assessment process, and therefore did not impact school accountability/rankings. Often students with mild disabilities who just needed accommodations or differentiated instruction in the classroom were routinely referred for special education services in order to exclude them from the assessment process and subsequently the accountability ratings. Until the passage of HB 1800 in 1997, there were no or low expectations for students with disabilities to learn anything within in the 12+ years attending school. Today that is not an option. In 2000, Texas began field testing the State Developed Alternate Assessment (SDAA) to assess students at their academic level of curriculum instruction. Students who were not receiving any TEKS curriculum instruction or were working on pre-requisite skills were assessed using a locally developed alternate assessment (LDAA). It wasn’t until 2006 that the SDAA met expectation scores were reported as part of the current school academic excellence indicator reports (AEIS)
With the passage of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) in 2001 and the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) in 2004, the issue of assessing all students on grade level curriculum was addressed. This led to a new level of testing for all students across the country. Texas began to revise its testing as well. In the 2007-2008 school year all students were to have access to grade level curriculum in some shape or form; and therefore, no student receiving special education services was exempt from the assessment process. To learn more about how to access grade level curriculum with prerequisite skills -see the curriculum frameworks developed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
For the 2007-2008 school year through the 2010-2011 school year, the assessment options for students with disabilities were:
- General Assessments
- TAKS
- Spanish TAKS (only available in grade 3-5),
- TAKS-Accommodated
- Alternate Assessments
- TAKS - Modified
- TAKS - Alternate
In response to requirements set forth by the 80th and 81st Texas legislatures, the Texas Education Agency, in collaboration with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Texas educators, developed a new assessment system that will focus on increasing postsecondary readiness of graduating high school students and help to ensure that all Texas students will be competitive with other students both nationally and internationally.
The new statewide assessment system, known as the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR™) is used to measure how well students are progressing. The STAAR is aligned with the state-mandated curriculum, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and will replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). In grades 3-8 the STAAR program will assess the same subjects that have been assessed on TAKS. At the high school level, however, students with be tested on 12 end-of-course assessments (STAAR EOC): Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English I, English II, English III, World Geography, World History, and U.S. History.
Students enrolled in grade 10 or above in the 2011-2012 school year or who are repeating grade 9 in this school year will graduate under TAKS requirements and will not take the STAAR assessments. Students who are repeating grade 9 in the 2011-2012 school year will not take the grade 9 TAKS assessments because these tests are no longer available; however, districts may choose to give these students a released TAKS test or a locally developed test. In 2012-13, TAKS Grade 10 will no longer be available. TAKS Exit Level will continue to be available to Grade 11-12 students. Students first enrolled in grade 9 or below in the 2011-2012 school year will be required to take the STAAR EOC assessments for the courses that they are enrolled in as part of their graduation requirements. They will no longer take TAKS.
Beginning in the Spring of 2012, the TAKS and STAAR assessment options for students with disabilities will be:
- General Assessments
- STAAR (including End of Course) – For all students in grades 3-8 and entering 9th graders who do not qualify for one of the other STAAR™ assessments.
- STAAR Spanish – For English Language Learners in grades 3-5 for whom a Spanish-version of STAAR is most appropriate.
- STAAR L (including End of Course) – For English Language Learners in grades 3-8 and entering 9th graders who meet requirements for a linguistically accommodated version of STAAR.
- TAKS – For all students in grade 10 or above in the 2011-2012 school year who do not qualify for one of the other TAKS assessments.
- TAKS (Accommodated) – For students in grade 10 or above in the 2011-2012 school year who are eligible for certain accommodations.
**There will not be a STAAR (Accommodated), but eligible students will be allowed certain accommodations on STAAR.
**Students repeating 9th grade will not be assessed in 2011-2012.
- Alternate Assessments
- STAAR Modified (including End of Course) - For students in grades 3-8 and entering 9th grade who access TEKS for enrolled grade/course through modifications.
- STAAR Alternate - For students in grades 3-11who access TEKS for enrolled grade/course through prerequisite skills.
- TAKS-Modified - For students in grades 10 and 11 who access TEKS* for enrolled grade/course through modifications.
**See the STAAR™ Assessment Comparison Chart (pdf) for the 2011-2012 School Year
Note: There are no exemptions allowed. If your child is in a grade in which the TAKSor STAAR™ is taken, then your child with a disability needs to participate in an assessment.
To Learn More, See:
- ARD Committee Decision Making
- Accommodations for Assessments
- Participation Requirements for STAAR™Modified and STAAR™ Alternate
What Parents Need To Know
Do you feel totally confused about which assessment your child should take? If you do not understand the implications of your choices, know that you are like any other parent of a child receiving special education services. Even though parents are all in the same predicament, we still have to make educated decisions, so ask questions of the school personnel that will help you understand the options. Consider spending some time on the Student Assessment Division website at TEA prior to attending your ARD meeting to find out what the latest changes are before you sit down to make decisions that will affect your child. Remember, these assessment decisions will affect your child’s future graduation program; therefore it is important to review the assurances on the STAAR Modified and STAAR Alternate required forms. See also the STAAR Graduation Flowcharts.
RESOURCES
Texas Education Agency Resources:
- STAAR™ Resources
- Accommodation Resources
- STAAR™-Modified Resources (includes assessed curriculum, calculator & dictionary policies, modification guidelines and more)
- STAAR™-Alternate Resources (includes assessment tasks, cueing & prompting guidance, presentation supports & materials info, and more)
- Assessment Guidance
- ARD Committee Resources for the Texas Assessment Program
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Assessment Program
- Testing Calendar
- Released Test Questions – STAAR™ and STAAR™ Modified
- STAAR Graduation Flowcharts
- Assessment Policy under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
Region 13 STAAR Resources Legal Framework for Child Centered Special Educations Process - See Intensive Program of Instruction to know what to do if your child doesn't perform satisfactorily on the statewide assessment
Texas Assessment – website developed by Pearson Education, Inc. with information for administrators, educators and families on the Texas Assessment system
Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills (TAKS) – If your child entered 9th grade BEFORE 2011-2012 school year, they will still take either TAKS or TAKS-Modified, or STAAR™-Alt.
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