Assessment & Testing Information

STAAR replaced the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) in the spring of 2012. The STAAR program at grades 3-8 assess the subjects listed below:

Grade 3 - reading and mathematics (English and Spanish versions)
Grade 4 - reading, mathematics, and writing (English and Spanish versions)
Grade 5* - reading, mathematics, and science (English and Spanish versions)
Grade 6 - reading and mathematics
Grade 7 - reading, mathematics, and writing
Grade 8* - reading, mathematics, science, and social studies

*SSI - Student Success Initiative
Enacted by the 76th Texas Legislature in 1999 and modified by the 81st Texas Legislature in 2009, the Student Success Initiative (SSI) grade advancement requirements apply to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) reading and mathematics tests at grades 5 and 8.

As specified by these requirements, a student may advance to the next grade level only by passing these tests or by unanimous decision of his or her grade placement committee that the student is likely to perform at grade level after additional instruction.

High School
At high school, subject-specific assessments will include 5 end-of-course (EOC) assessments: Algebra 1, biology, English I (R&W), English II (R&W), and U.S. History

Links from TEA:

• Assessment Resources for Students and Parents

STAAR-Alt is an alternative assessment based on alternate academic achievement standards and is designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities who meet the participation requirements. STAAR-Alt is administered in the same grades and subjects as STAAR.

In response to the federal testing requirement of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the Texas Education Agency developed an assessment system called TELPAS. This system consists of reading tests and holistically rated assessments of listening, speaking, reading (for K-1 students), and writing. TELPAS is designed to assess the progress that limited English proficient (LEP) students make in learning the English language.

Under NCLB, states’ English language proficiency assessments must assess students annually in kindergarten through twelfth grade in four language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. TELPAS assesses the following language domains.

Grades K–1 listening, speaking, reading, and writing are rated holistically. Together, holistically rated assessments provide performance data used to fulfill state and federal reporting requirements. TELPAS reports student performance in terms of four English language proficiency levels: beginning, intermediate, advanced, and advanced high.

Grades 2–12 listening, speaking, reading, writing

The domain of reading, listening, and speaking in Grades 3–12 are assessed through an online test. Together, the online listening, speaking, and reading tests and the holistically rated writing assessment provide performance data used to fulfill state and federal reporting requirements. TELPAS reports student performance in terms of four English language proficiency levels: beginning, intermediate, advanced, and advanced high.

TELPAS is administered to all eligible Emergent Bilingual students, including students who do not participate in a bilingual or English as a second language (ESL) program because of parental denial.

BHS Assessment Schedule

BMS Assessment Schedule

BIS Assessment Schedule

BES Assessment Schedule