Texas. The TEA implements all of the state's education policies, including testing and accountability.

TEKS: Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
In 1998 the Texas Education Agency created the state-mandated Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills curriculum to ensure that there is a common learning standard in each grade across the state. At the end of most school years, students take a standardized test to find out if they are on track for their grade.

TAKS: Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills
In 2003 the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) replaced an earlier test, the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills, in grades 3 through 11. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS replaced an earlier test and end-of-course examinations for high school students. The TAKS is better aligned with the state learning standards and holds higher stakes for students. TAKS measures student performance in statewide curriculum in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in math in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11.

Texas Accountability Ratings
In 2004 the Texas Education Agency put into place a new accountability rating system based on the new test. Accountability Ratings show how well schools are performing across all grades and all subjects against the state standards. To calculate a school's Accountability Rating, the state looks at its performance on the previous year's TAKS test as well as its dropout rate (for grades 7-8) and school completion rate (grades 9-12). Other factors weigh into the accountability rating, including how categories of student perform, and whether or not the school has shown improvement. Using these indicators, the state rates schools as exemplary, recognized, academically acceptable or academically unacceptable. If a school is rated academically unacceptable, students may be eligible to transfer to another school.

LAT: Linguistically Accommodated Testing
In 2005 Texas initiated Linguistically Accommodated Testing, which allows some students to take the math TAKS with language help. LAT applies only to students enrolled in grades 3 through 10 who are classified as exempt from the TAKS on the basis of limited English proficiency. Linguistic accommodations vary and can include the use of bilingual dictionaries to find definitions of difficult words, and reading assistance, in which test administrators read aloud words or sentences from the test.

RPTE: Reading Proficiency Test in English
In addition to taking the TAKS in Spanish, limited English proficient (LEP) students must take the Reading Proficiency Test in English (RPTE). The goal is to help students become English proficient and get them on track to take the TAKS in English.

SDAA II -- State-Developed Alternative Assessment
The SDAA II assesses special-education students in grades 3 through 8 who are receiving instruction according to TEKS standards but for whom the TAKS is inappropriate. This alternative assessment tests students in reading, writing and math.

Updated July 2006