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TEA News Release Online
March 27, 2009
Nine of every 10 third-grade students
pass TAKS reading exam
AUSTIN – Eighty-nine percent of Texas students who took either the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) or TAKS (Accommodated) reading test passed, which means they have cleared a key promotion requirement.
Texas students must pass the state’s third-grade reading TAKS, fifth-grade reading and math TAKS and eighth-grade reading and math exams in order to be promoted to the next grade under the Texas School Success Initiative requirement.
Forty-six percent of the 315,727 students who took the third-grade exam in English received a Commended Performance designation because they earned a scale score of 2400 or higher. A passing score on TAKS is 2100.
Among the 34,941 third-grade students who took the TAKS or TAKS (Accommodated) in Spanish, 83 percent passed the reading test and 29 percent earned Commended Performance.
Fifth-grade students who were tested in English had an 83 percent passing rate on the reading exam. This test was taken by 322,982 students in March. Thirty percent of these students reached the Commended Performance level.
Among the 7,720 fifth-grade students who took a Spanish language reading test, 68 percent passed and 18 percent earned the Commended Performance designation.
In eighth-grade, 319,292 students took the reading test. This class posted the highest passing rate with 93 percent passing the test. Forty-eight percent reached the Commended Performance level. There is not a Spanish-language test available at this grade.
While most students take the TAKS or TAKS-Accommodated, TAKS-M is an alternative assessment available to students receiving special education services who meet participation requirements. It features modified academic achievement standards.
At third grade, 85 percent of the 11,308 students who took TAKS-M passed the reading exam and 17 percent earned a Commended Performance designation.
At fifth grade, 79 percent of the 15,050 students tested passed the TAKS-M reading test and 14 percent were recognized for Commended Performance.
At eighth grade, 79 percent of the 14,290 students who were tested on TAKS-M passed the reading assessment and 11 percent received Commended Performance.
Students who failed the reading test will have opportunities to pass it on April 29 and July 1 when retests are scheduled.
The fifth and eighth-grade mathematics exams that students must also pass in order to be promoted will be given April 7, with two additional retests available.
Under state law, students who fail these exams must be given extra instructional help. If a student is in jeopardy of being retained, parents can appeal the retention to a Grade Placement Committee, which consists of parents, the child’s teacher and the principal. If in unanimous agreement, the committee may promote the child to the next grade but additional instructional help must be provided.
Bills now under review by the Texas Legislature propose repealing the promotion requirements tied to testing.
Additional testing information is available at: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index3.aspx?id=3631&menu_id3=793. Scores for local districts or specific campuses are available at the local level only at this time.
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