The math problem From the cover
Put into perspective
The big picture
disruption during the pandemic is one cause for lower scores, but RRISD officials pointed to newer test formats as a potential contributing factor as well. Alongside STAAR tests being made fully virtual in 2022, a number of new question types were introduced that stray from typical multiple choice questions. The newness of these questions meant that there weren’t many examples to go off of, resulting in some students seeing questions structured in new ways for the first time while taking the test, said Laura Carlin-Gonzalez, RRISD’s executive director of teaching and learning. “Now that there’s this new version of the test, I don’t think we’ve caught up instructionally to give them enough tasks to mimic how they’re going to be assessed,” said Rodrigo Portillo, RRISD’s assistant superintendent of academic services. Additionally, the test revision introduced more open-ended questions, which Portillo said students statewide have historically performed the worst on since the year it was introduced.
In 2019, 52% of Texas students performed at their grade level on the math STAAR—the highest percentage since the inception of the test in 2012. The test was not administered in 2020 due to COVID-19, but in 2021, student performance fell by 15 percentage points statewide. Math can be among the most challenging subject areas to catch up on, as missed benchmarks can compound over time, said Dillon Finan, AISD’s director of campus and district accountability. “Sometimes you don’t realize what gap exists until you get further down the line, and then you have a lot of back work to do to fill all those gaps,” Finan said. From 2019 to 2024—a period that also saw several changes to STAAR standards—math proficiency fell across most grade levels at AISD, RRISD and statewide. Despite this, just 1 in 10 parents believe their children are performing below their grade level in math, a survey by Gallup and Learning Heroes found. Learning loss introduced by curriculum
Each spring, third grade through high school students take the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, tracking performance across subjects. Particularly in math, student scores in Austin and across Texas have been on the decline. STAAR ratings include “did not meet,” “approaches,” “meets” or “masters” grade level. Students scoring “approaches” and above essentially pass; those reaching “meets” and above are considered proficient. Under state law, students who don’t meet grade-level standards receive accelerated instruction the next school year, which can include small-group tutoring or other in- school dedicated study time.
STAAR math scores STAAR math scores that “meet grade level” have declined multiple percentage points for most grades in AISD, RRISD and statewide.
Austin ISD Statewide
Round Rock ISD
-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 -20
Statewide math performance for all grade levels Schools began administering the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness in 2012. The Texas Education Agency has not yet released information about combined statewide performance on the 2024 exams across all grade levels.
60%
50%
40%
30%
0
Math
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
*THE STAAR WAS NOT ADMINISTERED IN 2020 DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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