TELPAS
This assessment system measures the progress that English language learners-referred to as limited English proficient (LEP) students in state and federal law-make in acquiring the English language. As required by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act of 2001, TELPAS assesses the language domains of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Significant changes to the Texas testing program beginning 2011-2012

C-FB ISD along with other Texas school districts will experience significant changes next school year in the state testing program. STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) will replace TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) as the new Texas student assessment program.

A 20-member C-FB ISD Transition Team is working to help our teachers, principals, students and families prepare for STAAR. The team is analyzing three major areas: curriculum, logistics, and communications. The group will determine what structures and systems are needed to ensure student, school and district success on the new state testing program.

STAAR will be a more rigorous assessment than TAKS because the program emphasizes the College and Career Readiness Standards within the state curriculum standards, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The TEKS are in two categories: Readiness Standards and Supporting Standards.

Readiness Standards are defined as standards that:

1. are essential for success in the current grade or course
2. are important for preparedness for the next grade or course
3. support college and career readiness
4. necessitate in-depth instruction
5. address broad and deep ideas

Supporting Standards are defined as standards that:

1. are emphasized in a previous year and in a subsequent year
2. play a role in preparing students for the next grade or course
3. are aligned to and support the readiness standards.

Although Readiness Standards represent 30% of the TEKS, they will make up 65% of the test. Supporting Standards constitute 70% of the TEKS, but they will represent only 35% of the STAAR questions.

Implementation Timeline

Students in grades 3-8 will take STAAR instead of TAKS. STAAR tests will be given in the same grade and subject levels as TAKS tests beginning in 2011-2012.

High school students will transition to STAAR EOC (End-of-Course) beginning with ninth graders during the 2011-2012 school year. A total of 12 EOC exams will assess the four core areas of English/Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social studies in the courses indicated on the chart to the right. These tests will assess only TEKS taught in a given course. Due to the emphasis on Readiness Standards, the STAAR EOC exams will also be a more rigorous assessment than TAKS.

Middle school students who take the high school courses listed in the chart will take the EOC exams in middle school.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is still working on the STAAR implementation. The program may change during the current legislative session. For more information, visit the TEA website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/. Parent resources are available at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/parents/.

C-FB ISD will update this page with new information about implementation progress.