The STAAR test (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) will debut in this spring, beginning with the freshmen class.
Robert Scott, commissioner of education in Texas, announced this change Jan. 26, 2010. The STAAR will be more rigorous than the current state tests and will differ from TAKS test in several ways.
“I don’t see why the state is making things harder on us,” freshmen Lindsey Poe said. “Some people already have trouble with TAKS, and this will make them struggle even more.”
The STAAR will focus more so on analysis of course-covered information, and students will write two essays instead of one. In addition, the test must me completed within a four hour time frame (unless more time is needed for special reasons).
In order to graduate, students must have a passing cumulative four-year score.
“It will be tough to get kids to take the test seriously,” world geography teacher Aaron Pratt said. “But in the long run, it will help them to try hard all year to get good results.”
Twelve separate tests will be administered throughout a student’s high school career– one for each primary academic course taken during freshmen, sophomore and junior years.
“The new tests will hold kids accountable for all courses throughout high school rather than just the standard exit-level TAKS tests,” Aaron said. “These changes will definitely affect curriculum once we have a better idea of what all is on the test and how difficult is really is.”
Unlike TAKS, a student’s STAAR results account for 15 percent of their final course grade.
“What makes me really angry is that the tests will affect my grade in the class,” Lindsey said. “It will put way more pressure on me, which isn’t good since I tend to crack under pressure.”
However, sophomores and juniors will continue to take the TAKS test during their remaining high school career.
“Overall I think they are doing this to try and push kids who don’t take the TAKS seriously,” Lindsey said. “But I think the problem they will run into is that some still won’t take it seriously and it could cost them their diploma.”
by Catherine Festa
