STAAR Information for Parents, September 2011

Dear Parents,

The State of Texas is eliminating the TAKS test and replacing it with a test called STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness). The new test for middle school students will test the same grades and the same subjects as the TAKS test, grade 7 – reading, math, and writing and grade 8 – reading, math, science, and social studies. Plus, if your child is taking a course for high school credit, she or he will take the STAAR end-of-course exam in that subject.

As of right now, the new STAAR test will also have the following changes:

• There will be a 4-hour time limit for your student to complete the STAAR test. However, if your student receives special accommodations because of unique learning needs or circumstances, extended time may be available.
• The STAAR test will be longer in most grades and subjects and will be a harder test.
• STAAR Modified tests and STAAR Alternate tests will be available, just as they were with TAKS.
• The grade 7 writing test will take two days to complete
• Once your child starts taking courses for high school credit, he or she will have to pass the STAAR end-of-course exams in English I, II, and III; Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, World Geography, World History, and U.S. History; Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
• The end-of-course exams will count as 15% of your student’s grade in the course.

The middle school STAAR tests will be given on the following dates:

March 27 – 7^th grade writing (day 1); 8^th grade math

March 28 – 7^th grade writing (day 2); 8^th grade reading

April 24 – 7^th grade math

April 25 – 7^th grade reading

April 26 – 8^th grade science

April 27 – 8^th grade social studies

We look forward to working with you to help your child succeed. As we receive more information from the Texas Education Agency, we will pass it on to you.