What is STAAR?
The State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) is a more rigorous standardized testing program for grades 3 through 8 that will replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).
How is the STAAR different from TAKS?
The new standards emphasize “readiness” standards, which are the knowledge and skills that are considered most important for success in the next grade or subject area, and also leading to college and career readiness. Some of the other changes are:
- Increase in test difficulty with a focus on college and career readiness
- Increase in the number of test items
- Four-hour time limit on the tests (new)
- Increase in the number of open ended questions for math and science
Who will take the End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments, and how will they be counted for the course grade and graduation?
Students entering the 9
th grade in 2011-12 are the first class that must meet the new EOC requirements to graduate. These students will be taking the EOC, rather than TAKS, tests. The four TAKS tests previously administered to high school students are now being replaced by the 12 EOC assessments, as follows.
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English
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Math
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Science
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Social Studies
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English I
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Algebra I
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Biology
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World Geography
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English II
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Geometry
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Chemistry
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World History
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English III
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Algebra II
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Physics
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US History
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*Note – By state law, a student’s score on the STAAR EOC must count as 15% of the student’s final grade.
How can I prepare my teachers & students for the new STAAR & EOC?
LTF recently hosted a webinar series on our teacher-to-teacher training program and how it will not only educate your teachers about the new standards, but also prepare them to deliver a more rigorous curriculum so your students are prepared.