Each year near the end of January school administrators from across the state converge on the Austin Convention Center for what is known as the Texas Association of School Administrators’ Mid-Winter Conference. The conference runs from Monday through Wednesday and showcases some of the best practices found in public schools.
On Tuesday, the keynote speaker was Robert Scott, the state’s commissioner of education. His presentation surprised many in the audience as he unveiled a new state-testing program to be known as the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR.
The STAAR will replace the last state testing program known as TAKS, or Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, and will be used to assess students in grades 3-8. The new tests are predicted to be much more rigorous than previous state assessments including the most recent TAKS. The new tests will roll out for a, pardon the pun, test drive in the 2011-12 school year. These tests are supposed to meet alignment criteria to prepare students for the 2009 legislative mandates that called for end-of-course assessments to be used in high schools in lieu of the TAKS. These tests will be used in the new accountability system with ratings debuting in 2013.
This latest assessment is one of a long line of testing programs dating back to 1980. The first statewide test was termed the Texas Assessment of Basic Skills and was used in only three grades and two subjects, reading and math. Next came the Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills where the grade levels were expanded and students were required to pass the 11th grade test to earn a diploma. The third system, known as the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills, was used from 1990 to 2002 and expanded the scope including the subjects of science and social studies as well as the end-of-course tests that are now being brought back into existence.
The TAKS test has been with us since 2002 and has been by far the most rigorous and best assessment of the group. The TAKS test actually addressed and tested the state-required curriculum; however, it had drawbacks as well. Putting staff and high schools students through the stress of high stakes testing was questionable; however, when a system subjects third grade students to the fear that if they do not pass this one test they will not be promoted, something had to change. The 2009 legislative session brought an end to this fear and pushed back promotion requirements to fifth grade. Although this is not ideal, there is a major difference in the maturity level between a fifth grader and a third grader.
The true selling point in regards to the new STAAR test is that it will incorporate a growth measure in its calculations. In other words, it will show the amount of educational growth a student has gained in terms of years and months since the previous year’s testing. To calculate the formula required to produce this system is complex. Pundits have always argued that such a system was too expensive to incorporate and would rely on questionable data without comprehensive research. I have always argued that a growth measure was the only true way to attach student accountability to teacher performance.
The Lago Vista school district will face more of a challenge in regards to this new system than most due to the fact that large growth gains are not possible in schools already attaining the “Exemplary” label. Couple this with the fact that as with new testing systems accountability ratings normally drop, and we have a quite a mountain to climb. I will assure you that the staff and students at the Lago Vista school district will rise to the challenge and produce a new level of excellence to hang our hat on. Go Vikings!