As you know, Texas has been in the process over the past couple of years of phasing out the TAKS and moving to fully implement the STAAR, State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness.  TEA is still in the process of adapting to new legislation which has forced changes in the types of state assessments given and the number required for a student to graduate.  Links below will direct you to TEA web pages for more information.

STAAR is very different from TAKS.  One major difference is that STAAR begins with the end in mind by taking the CCRS, College Career Readiness Standards, and filtering each standard all the way down to Kindergarten.  TAKS had very little to no connection from grade to grade within a content area.  This new assessment design makes vertical alignment more important than ever.  We are in a great position to make this transition at Chapel Hill because several years ago we made vertical alignment a focus.  For this reason, it has been said that we should not longer think of ourselves as grade LEVEL teachers, but as grade BAND teachers.  Another way to think of STAAR as compared to TAKS is to use the race analogy.  TAKS was adash but STAAR is a relay. Therefore, everthing a student does in one grade level effects and impacts what they do in the next, and the next, all the way up through STAAR EOC, End-of-Course, in high school. 

STAAR Resources   This link will take you to the TEA website.  You can choose from many links for information on STAAR Modified, STAAR Alternate, TELPAS, etc.

For answers to questions concerning STAAR and TELPAS, click here.

If you have comments, suggestions, or questions please contact Pam Norwood atpnorwood@chisddevils.com or 903-572-8096 ext. 797.