Understanding the New STAAR Results for Texas Elementary and Middle School Students
New STAAR results for Texas elementary and middle school students were published, giving parents, teachers, and education leaders a glimpse into how children are performing in reading and math.
The results showed improvements almost across the board in reading. The percentage of students meeting grade-level expectations is higher than it was prior to the pandemic in grades three through eight.
Students struggled more in math, a subject that was harder hit by learning loss amid COVID-19 school closures. Students in third and eighth grades made gains, while those in fifth and seventh grades saw the percentage of students meeting grade level dip.
“While this year also saw some improvements in math, clearly more work is needed,” Texas education commissioner Mike Morath said in a statement.
The broad trend lines help state officials figure out what’s working — and what isn’t — when it comes to Texas’ approach to education. Public school leaders often point to results to bolster the arguments for greater investments in literacy training or tutoring programs.
For individual students, scores can help a parent assess whether a child is hitting key learning milestones.
Accessing Your Child’s STAAR Scores
How can I access my child’s STAAR scores?
Parents can log into TexasAssessment.gov and find their child’s STAAR results. The website provides guardians with insight into how each student answered questions and recommendations on how to support that child’s academic growth.
Understanding STAAR Scores
What does a STAAR score signify?
Students don’t need to meet grade level to pass the exams. STAAR scores are broken down into four performance categories on how well they compared to grade-level expectations: masters, meets, approaches, and did not meet.
A student who achieves approaches or higher passes the test. However, if the student scores only at the approaches level, it means academic intervention is likely needed in order to succeed in the next grade.
Those who failed the STAAR test “are unlikely to succeed in the next grade or course without significant, ongoing academic intervention,” according to Texas Education Agency documents.
The Role of AI in Scoring STAAR Tests
Does Texas use AI to score STAAR tests?
Texas students’ written responses on the STAAR test are most likely scored by a computer, rather than a person. Roughly three-quarters of written responses are scored by an “automated scoring engine.”
However, state officials say the system is not the same as the generative artificial intelligence that powers programs like ChatGPT. They describe it as a tool with narrow abilities intended to improve scoring efficiency.
Dallas ISD is among several districts that have voiced concerns over the use of AI to grade tests. Last year, DISD submitted more than 4,600 tests for rescoring by the agency. Roughly 43% showed an improvement after they were rescored.
The Future of STAAR Tests
Is STAAR going away?
No — at least not this year. Some lawmakers tried to kill the tests during the latest legislative session, but their efforts fell short.
Among their complaints was that STAAR scores aren’t available until the summer, meaning teachers can’t adjust their approach to help students improve in real time. One plan that gained momentum would have replaced the STAAR with a series of three shorter exams administered throughout the school year.
Debate over the future of state standardized testing is likely to resume when lawmakers return to Austin in 2027.
The Importance of STAAR Tests in Texas
Why is STAAR important in Texas?
Beyond giving parents and teachers insight into how children are doing, the results also fuel the bulk of the state’s academic accountability system.
Each public school campus and district receives a grade on an A through F scale. Failing scores open up a district to intervention, including a state takeover such as the one playing out in Houston ISD.
Teachers in some districts are also eligible for merit-based raises in part based on how their students perform on STAAR.
For high schoolers, passing these exams is a way to qualify for graduation.
Conclusion
The new STAAR results provide valuable insights into the performance of Texas elementary and middle school students in reading and math. While there are improvements in reading, more work is needed in math. Parents, teachers, and education leaders must work together to support students and address the challenges posed by the pandemic.
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, Judy and Jim Gibbs, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Ron and Phyllis Steinhart, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks, and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the STAAR test?
A: The STAAR test is a standardized test administered to Texas elementary and middle school students to measure their performance in reading and math.
Q: How can I access my child’s STAAR scores?
A: Parents can log into TexasAssessment.gov to find their child’s STAAR results.
Q: What does a STAAR score signify?
A: STAAR scores are broken down into four performance categories: masters, meets, approaches, and did not meet. A student who achieves approaches or higher passes the test.
Q: Is the STAAR test going away?
A: No, the STAAR test is not going away, at least not this year. Lawmakers tried to kill the tests during the latest legislative session, but their efforts fell short.
Q: Why is the STAAR test important in Texas?
A: The STAAR test is important in Texas because it provides insight into how children are doing, fuels the state’s academic accountability system, and is used to determine eligibility for graduation and merit-based raises for teachers.
