Summary Texas Assessment and Accountability Reform

Texas lawmakers are committed to ensuring that nearly five million Texas students, who attend over 1,200 public schools and charters, are college and career ready as they graduate from high school and move into postsecondary life. As public stewards of over $40 billion in taxpayer monies, Legislators are also committed to accountability and ensuring that investment is responsible and effective. This system has also provided a necessary tool to identify struggling students and respond with the needed intervention. Since implementation of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) system, valid concerns regarding how this tool is used, and whether or not it is a meaningful measure in the 21st century, have been raised by students, teachers, principals, superintendents, parents, and business leaders. The recommended reforms remain committed to the importance of accountability, assessment and career and college readiness but also recognize the various pathways to student success. Moreover, supporting local control by allowing local parents, teachers, principals and school districts the freedom to create the most successful learning experience for the nearly five million Texans they serve each day.

End of Course Exams and High School Graduation Requirements

Reforms the graduation requirements for Texas High School students from 15 to three exams. o Algebra I o English III o Writing III Eliminates the cumulative score Eliminates the 15 percent to account for a student's course grade Eliminates remaining 10 End of Course exams for Texas High School Students Prohibits the use of student performance on End of Course exams for Class Rank

Flexible Assessments
Requires a student's satisfactory performance on the Scholastic Assessment Test, American College Test, Advance Placement or International Baccalaureate exam to satisfy the End of Course exams as required for graduation Requires a student's satisfactory performance in dual credit to satisfy the End of Course exams as required for graduation

Accountability
Districts and high school campuses will be held accountable for student performance on three End of Course exams, reduced from 15 End of Course exams Suspension of accountability ratings for the 2013-2014 academic school year Create additional indicators for the state accountability system that demonstrate academic and student achievement in areas other than state assessment. For example, career and technology certification and licensure, ACT/SAT participation, AP/IB participation, dual credit and associated degrees earned.

Higher Education Admission Requirements

The state of Texas is prohibited from using a student's test score on End of Course exams for the purpose of admission to a public institution of higher education The state of Texas is prohibited from using a student's test score on End of Course exams for the purpose of calculating a student's class ranking A public institution of higher education is not prohibited from considering, among other criteria, a student's End of Course exam for the purpose of admission