Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills A new assessment system' A Presentation for Parents and Com

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Texas Assessment of Knowledge and SkillsA new
assessment system.A Presentation for Parents
and Community MembersAdapted from a
presentation by Region XIII
Houston Independent School District
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Changes in Curriculum 1998-2002
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Why do we have a tougher curriculum?

• To improve education for all students so that
  they are prepared for options after high school
• In recognition that more jobs require a better
  formal education
• To educate students to be well prepared to face
  complex economic and societal challenges.

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Changes in Testing Texas Assessment of
Knowledge and Skills - TAKS
CLEAR
TEKS
TAKS
TAKS
TAAS
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What elementary subjects will TAKS cover
beginning in 2002-2003?
Tests in Grades 3-6 are administered in English
or Spanish depending upon the language of
instruction.
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Impact of TAKS on HISD Promotion Standards

• Grade 3 Reading
• Grades 4-8 Reading and Math
• In addition to TAKS, course grades and
  Stanford/Aprenda results are used in reaching
  promotion standards.

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What happens if a child fails the Grade 3 Reading
TAKS test?

• If a student does not pass, even after the third
  test administration, retention is automatic.
• A committee including the parent will write an
  instructional plan for that student.
• Parents have the right to appeal the automatic
  retention.

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What happens if a child fails TAKS Reading or
Mathematics in Grades 4-8?

• Students are automatically retained.
• Students attend summer school.
• A grade placement committee determines
  appropriate grade placement after summer school.

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Testing Requirement for Graduation in 2004-05

• Students in the class of 2005 and beyond must
  pass the Grade 11 Exit Level TAKS as prescribed
  by state law
• English III
• Algebra I and geometry
• Early American and United States History (AND
  World History and World Geography)
• Biology and integrated physics and chemistry

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Changes in Assessment

• TAKS Its harder!

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So, what does this mean for all of us?

• Teachers must plan and teach based on the
  curriculum.
• Students will be held accountable for
• MORE MATERIAL
• MATERIAL LEARNED IN CURRENT AND PREVIOUS GRADE
  LEVELS
• on a more challenging test than ever before

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Where Weve Been Where Were Going

• TAKS is the fourth statewide test
• TABS 1980-83
• TEAMS 1983-90
• TAAS 1990-2002
• TAKS 2003-??

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TABS

• Exit Level Use basic operations
• 7,001 A. 1,076
• -6,325 B. 776
• C. 676
• D. 1,976

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TEAMS

• Exit Level Use basic operations
• Identify equivalent fractions, decimals, and
  percents
• Express .235 as a percent.
• A. 23.5
• B. .00235
• C. .235
• D. 2.35

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Express or solve problems using mathematical
representation
TAAS
The fare for riding in a taxi is a 2 fixed
charge and 0.10 per mile. The fare for a ride of
d miles is 3.50. Which equation could be used to
find d ?

• 0.10(2 d) 3.50
• (0.10)(2) d 3.50
• 2(0.10d) 3.50
• 2 0.10d 3.50
• 2(0.10 d) 3.50

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TAKS
Formulate and use linear equations and
inequalities
The equations of two lines are 4x - 5y -15
and y (4/5) x 6 Which of the following
describes their point of intersection? A.
(1.875, 4.5) B. (-5, 1) C. (10, -5) D. No
intersection
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Reading

• Longer passage at all grades
• Mix of stories and nonfiction pieces
• Compare pieces
• Answer harder questions in different ways than
  TAAS did
• Test looks like reading instructional techniques
  in your childs classroom
• Expectation that students will be able to read on
  grade level

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Writing

• Two parts
• Composition
• Peer Editing/Revising
• NEW Scoring Criteria

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Mathematics

• More complex problems
• Griddable responses
• Using rulers and applying measurements
• Logical reasoning
• High School
• Graphing calculators
• Algebra and Geometry

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Objective 4 TAAS

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Objective 4 TAKS
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Science

• Elementary School Grade 5
• Test of Grades 2-5
• Requires background from labs and field
  experiences
• High School Grades 10 and 11
• Integrated Physics and Chemistry
• Biology

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Which skull belongs to the animal best adapted
for eating fish?
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Elementary Testing Schedule
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Whats Really Important?

• Student Learning

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What has HISD done to support student success?

• Curriculum
• Developed CLEAR curriculum aligned with TEKS,
  Pre-K through high school
• Provided online access to school staff
• Instruction
• Developed instructional units (Model Lessons)
• Provided training to campus coordinators
• Assessment
• Made performance data available to teachers
  online (PASS)
• Developed tests to monitor student progress
  throughout the year

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What has HISD done to support student success?

• Professional Development
• Summer and on-going training for Lead Teachers
• On-going training for Model Lesson Coordinators
• Writing Summit
• Mathematics Summit
• Balanced Approach to Reading
• Teacher Reading Academies (K-3)
• Laptops for Teachers
• Recruited over 1700 certified teachers
• Reduced class size waivers

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What are we doing at our school?

• Using the CLEAR curriculum
• Sending Lead Teachers and Model Lesson
  Coordinators to training and sharing the training
  with the staff
• Implementing the model lessons
• Monitoring student progress

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What are we doing at our school?

• Providing hands-on experiences in mathematics
  with a focus on problem solving
• Providing lab and field experiences in science
  Grades K-5
• Providing a strong foundation for and practice
  with reading and writing
• Providing a background in history and geography

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What Can Parents Do?

• Make sure your child comes to school each and
  every day to make learning a high priority.
• Talk with your child to share experiences and ask
  questions.
• Be sure your child completes school assignments.
  Encourage reading and writing.
• Talk with your child's teacher to find out how
  you can help your child.
• Attend school functions, and keep in touch with
  your child's school.
• Now, more than ever before, we need parents to be
  informed and to be full partners in their
  children's education. Success on the TAKS is, of
  course, our short-term goal, but this level of
  parent involvement can mean success in future
  learning.
• Take advantage of opportunities for support and
  review that we are offering here at school.

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Putting It All Together to Meet the Challenge

• Working together,
• Teachers
• Parents
• Students
• Parent Liaisons
• Weve had challenges before well overcome them
  together again!

Together, we can move mountains!
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Where can I get more information?

• Your childs teacher
• Principal
• Assistant Principals
• Counselors
• Project Reconnect
• www.houstonisd.org