The math problem From the cover
Put into perspective
The big picture
From 2019 to 2024—a period that also saw several changes to STAAR standards—math proficiency fell across all grade levels at AISD and statewide. Yet just 1 in 10 parents believe their children are performing below their grade level in math, a survey by Gallup and Learning Heroes found. AISD leaders said they’ve responded to falling STAAR scores with “significant” investments aimed at keeping students on track—or catching them up to their peers. Those include new materials, curricu- lum updates and added supports, such as instruc- tional coaches for teachers and administrators. Mary Ann Maxwell, AISD assistant superinten- dent of elementary academics, also said the district is purposefully shifting away from digital education platforms after a surge in remote learning because of COVID-19. Instead, face-to-face instruction is favored, particularly in targeted interventions for students most in need. “We haven’t seen … that [remote learning] has been effective for our kids,” she said.
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. This summer, Grantham told the Texas House Public Education committee that current scoring indicates less than half of Texas high schoolers are ready to tackle college-level math. Dillon Finan, AISD’s director of campus and dis- trict accountability, said local students—especially those experiencing poverty—also got lower STAAR math results prepandemic, leaving an even larger gap to fill. He also said math can be among the most challenging subject areas to catch up on, as missed benchmarks can compound over time. “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.
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. That can include small-group tutoring on specific subjects and work with top-performing teachers under the state Teacher Incentive Allotment. AISD math STAAR scores Austin ISD has seen its students’ STAAR math results drop off across grade levels since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Austin ISD
Statewide
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.
-15 -10 -5 0 -30 -25 -20
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
Full-day Pre-K Needs Full-Day Funding
DID YOU KNOW?
The state requires full-day pre-K but only funds half the day.
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