Legislative Update #1Changes in Assessment and Graduation

83rd Texas Legislature

House Bill 5

House Bill 5 Rumors v. Fact

What is in… What is out…

What Changed?

HB 5What is in…

… and what is out…

What is in… Math

Grades 3-8 Reading

Grades 3-8 Writing

Grades 4 and 7 Science

Grades 5 and 8 Social Studies

Grade 8

What is in… Algebra I EOC Biology EOC U.S. History EOC English I EOC

Reading and Writing will be combined starting next spring English II EOC

Reading and Writing will be combined starting next spring All will be required for graduation

What is still in… Algebra II EOC and English III EOC

Will not be administered until 2015-2016 Are not required for graduation Do not have specific performance requirements Will be administered ONLY on a voluntary basis Cannot be used for accountability, teacher

evaluations, grades, class rank, or college

What is still in… Districts are required to provide

accelerated instruction to students who fail STAAR Including any of the five remaining EOCs

What is still in… Assigned Testing Days for

English I English II

A One-Week Testing Window for Algebra I Biology U.S. History

What is out… Geometry EOC Chemistry EOC Physics EOC World History EOC World Geography EOC

What is out… EOC cumulative score toward

graduation EOC Level 1 minimum scores to count

toward the cumulative score 15% requirement for EOCs

HB 5What changed?

What changed? – General EOC Info EOC scores will be converted to a 100

point scale Satisfactory performance on other

assessments (e.g. AP, IB, SAT, ACT) in equivalent courses can substitute for performance on STAAR EOC assessments.

What changed? – English I and II EOCs English I and II EOCs will be combined into a

single assessment starting in spring 2014. Students who have currently passed one

assessment but not the other (e.g., passed English I reading but not English I writing) will still need to pass the second assessment to meet graduation requirements by fall 2013.

What changed?-- English I and II EOCs Students who have not successfully met

their graduation requirements for English I or II by spring 2014 will need to take the new combined reading and writing assessment.

What changed?-- STAAR Release Timelines Requires the agency to release general STAAR

assessments for grades 3–8 and EOC (first spring form only) and STAAR Spanish assessments for grades 3–5 (first spring form only) in 2012–2013 2013–2014 2014–2015 2015–2016

What changed?-- STAAR Release Timelines Requires the agency to release STAAR Modified

for grades 3–8 and EOC (first spring form only) in 2013–2014 2014–2015 2015–2016

Requires the agency to release general STAAR, STAAR Spanish, and STAAR Modified every third year thereafter.

What changed?-- STAAR Release Timelines TEA will release the general STAAR and the

STAAR Spanish assessments administered in spring 2013 (first administration only). 15 EOC assessments Grades 3–8 assessments Grades 3–5 Spanish assessments

2013 STAAR release tests will be posted on the TEA Student Assessment website in early August.

What changed?-- Miscellaneous Testing Issues Requires the agency to notify districts of results within

21 days of administration. Requires accelerated students to double test so they

have scores to use for AYP in grades 3–8 and in high school, e.g., grade 8 math and Algebra I.

Requires the agency to redevelop STAAR Alternate with no teacher requirement to prepare tasks or materials. The new assessment must be administered no later than

2014–2015.

What changed?-- Miscellaneous Testing Issues Requires the commissioner to establish assessment

administration procedures that minimize disruptions to school operations and classroom environments.

Prohibits districts from removing students from class for remedial tutoring or test preparation for more than 10% of the school day.

Limits the number of benchmark assessments to two per state assessment.

What changed?-- Graduation Minimum, Recommended, and

Distinguished High School programs are to remain for students entering grade 9 BEFORE 2014-2015.

A transition plan will be published during the 2013-2014 year to be in effect by 2014-2015.

What changed?-- Graduation Personal Graduation Plans (PGPs) will be

completed for all students entering grade 9 starting in the 2014-2015 school year.

Establishment of a 22 credit Foundation School Program. Students completing their fourth year during the

13-14 school year that do not meet their current plan can opt into the Foundation Program.

What changed?-- Graduation 5 New Graduation Endorsements of 26 credits

each (2014-2015) Multidisciplinary

Includes a “Distinguished Level of Achievement” Variety of advanced courses Multiple content areas

STEM Endorsement Public Services Arts and Humanities Business and Industry

What changed?-- Graduation

Each student must choose an endorsement -- in writing – upon entering 9th grade.

What changed?-- Graduation Students can earn a “performance acknowledgement” on

their diploma or transcript for starting in 2014-15 for outstanding performance: In a dual credit course Bilingualism or biliteracy On an AP or IB test PSAT, PLAN, SAT or ACT Or for earning a nationally / internationally recognized

business or industry certification or license

What changed?-- Counseling Each elementary, middle, and junior high

counselor must advise students and parents on the importance of postsecondary education.

Each year during high school, counselors must review information pertaining to endorsements, performance acknowledgements, and distinguished levels of achievement.

What changed?-- Counseling When students first register for high school

districts must provide notice of the requirements for higher education automatic admission.

Written notice signed by the counselor, parent and student must be given to juniors and seniors in the top 10% of their graduating class.

What changed?-- Accountability New report-only indicators for:

Distinguished level of achievement Students completing endorsements College readiness benchmarks Postsecondary credit, associate’s degrees,

or industry certifications earned

What changed?-- Accountability Creation of an A-F accountability system

for districts in 2016-17. A-C “Acceptable” D-F “Unacceptable”

Campus ratings revert to Exemplary, Recognized, Acceptable, and Unacceptable in 2016-17.

What changed?-- Accountability Creates a new dashboard that requires

TEA to develop and maintain a website separate from its own for the public to be able to access campus and district accountability information.

House Bill 866

HB 866 All students must be tested in:

Mathematics at grades 3, 5, and 8 Reading at grades 3, 5, and 8 Writing at grades 4 and 7 Science at grades 5 and 8 Social studies at grade 8

Requires the commissioner to request a waiver from USDE to not test high performing students at certain grades.

HB 866 Requires testing for students who do not

meet or exceed the “minimum satisfactory adjusted scale score” in Mathematics at grades 4, 6, and 7 Reading at grades 4, 6, and 7

Perhaps Level III students?

HB 2694/SB 1365

HB 2694/SB 1365 Changes to Credit by Exam Must include

AP Exams 3 or Higher

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) 60% or Higher

HB 2694/SB 1365 CBEs must be offered at least four times

per year Students can only take them twice Lowers the CBE without instruction score

from 90% to 80%