STAAR Testing

Austin ISD students, like kids throughout Texas, are seeing gains in reading proficiency since the COVID-19 pandemic, but math is another story. Educators and policy experts say more resources are needed to help students catch up.

The Texas Legislature passed a bill two years ago requiring the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness be administered online by the 2022-2023 school year. But school districts and some lawmakers are concerned the change is going to negatively affect students and test scores.

Raise Your Hand Texas released a report Tuesday that outlines ways to change how standardized testing is used to evaluate students and schools. The recommendations come just months ahead of the next legislative session.

While Texas students have not regained all the ground they lost in math during the pandemic, scores across all grades were higher in 2022 than they were in 2021. Reading proficiency, on the other hand, appears to have fully recovered.

En la primavera de 2021, 60% de los estudiantes del tercer al octavo grado pasó el examen de lectura, y 48% pasó el examen de matemáticas. En primavera de 2019, la última vez que los estudiantes tomaron el examen, 73% pasó el examen de lectura y 74% el examen de matemáticas.

In spring 2021, 60% of students in third through eighth grades passed the reading test, and 48% passed the math test. In spring 2019, the last time students took the test, 73% passed the reading test and 74% passed the math test.

Typically, there are high stakes around state assessment. A student who fails can be held back. Schools where a majority of students fail could face state intervention. This year, there are no consequences for students or schools based on the test.

The pandemic has upended school as most kids and teachers know it in Texas. But one part of the school year could proceed as normal: standardized testing, also known as STAAR.

From Texas Standard:With the possibility need for social distancing extending well beyond spring break, parents and educators are starting to plan for the…

STAAR testing is just about over for this school year. The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness have been part of Texas students' lives since…