Richardson | March 2023

DECLINING STAAR

PLANO ISD

RICHARDSON ISD

0% 20%

40% 60%

80%

100%

0% 20%

40% 60%

80%

100%

Grade 3

SCORES Due to myriad factors,

Grade 5

including potential learning loss due to the pandemic and some districts testing online, State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness scores have gone down heading into the redesign.

Grade 8

11%

Grade 3

Grade 5

15%

12%

2019 2021 2022 Percentage change (2019-2022)*

27%

Grade 8

13%

Grade 5

12%

Grade 8

*STAAR TESTING DID NOT TAKE PLACE IN 2020 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. SOURCES: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, RICHARDSON ISD, PLANO ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

14%

Grade 8

would alleviate any accountability burden if students have lower STAAR scores this year. Texas provides annual academic accountability ratings to its public school districts and to charters in the state, according to TEA officials. The ratings are based on performance on state standardized tests; graduation rates; and college, career and mili- tary readiness outcomes. Districts or schools that record negative account- ability scores over several years may face state-run interventions. Normally, when there is a substan- tial change, such as the revisions to the STAAR, school districts are given a year to see how changes affect scores overall, Branum said. “In my entire time in leadership, I’ve never had a year where [the TEA] changed the text and the account- ability system and not given us some

Major changes include changing the types of questions, aligning text to better reflect curriculum and admin- istering testing online. The exams are a summative assess- ment that show whether a student mastered knowledge of a core subject at a certain grade level, according to the TEA. The tests are given to students in third through eighth grades and in high school in a variety of subjects. One requirement of the STAAR redesign is a shift to online testing. However, Lily Laux, TEA deputy commissioner of school programs, said nearly 80% of districts already adopted online testing during the 2021-22 school year. Benefits of online testing include having earlier reported scores and alleviating the logistics required with paper tests, she said. “Having access to the online accom- modations has been very popular

with districts,” she said. In anticipation of the new rule changes, RISD and PISD began online STAAR administration over the last two years. Heading into this year’s testing period, Jacob Cortez, RISD executive director for accountability, said the district’s extra preparation time has enabled each RISD student to have a device for testing. “Because this will be our third year doing online testing, most of the cam- puses know what they are doing to the point that it is really old hat,” Cor- tez said. Taylor said PISD also has a device for each student. Looking for a grace period In addition to receiving last-minute information, Branum said the district has had no reassurances from the TEA about a potential grace period, which

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said. “Let’s experience and learn from the test ... so we can be geared up and ready for next year.” Despite this, PISD and RISD offi- cials said they want to encourage parents that district teachers are helping students perform well under the redesigned test. “We believe this redesign will increase the alignment between effective instructional practices and STAAR results,” PISD Chief Learning Officer Laurie Taylor said. Preparing for the new test Redesigning the STAAR is a result of House Bill 3906, which the State Leg- islature passed in 2019. TEA officials said the bill was designed to make sure the test is reflective of what stu- dents are learning.

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