Questions About STAAR/EOC Testing?
January 25, 2012
School districts have been aware of the changes coming with the STAAR/EOC testing program since 2010. Districts had been informed that the new tests would be more rigorous, be linked to college and career readiness and would begin with the Class of 2015, this years incoming Freshman, and all grades below down to 3rd. When the legislature passed HB 3 this summer, which mandated that 15% of a student’s final grade and credit for the course be tied to the EOC (End of Course exam) for high school courses it created many unanswered questions. Up to this point little guidance has been provided from TEA about how the 15% requirement is to be implemented. This requirement has multiple impacts on course curriculum, course credits, student grades, class rank, grade point average calculation, distinguished achievement program, junior high students taking HS courses and remediation for students who might fail the EOC exams. TEA (Texas Education Agency) has provided some information in the form of a FAQ document at http://www.txetests.com/faqs/index.asp .
Holliday ISD has already adopted board policy to address the 15% rule. For example a student taking Algebra 1 will have their 1st and 2nd semester grades count 42.5% each and the Alg. 1 EOC score will count 15% of the final grade.
The final grade will be used to calculate a student GPA (grade point average) which will then be used to calculate class rank. Students will only be allowed to retake the test to gain course credit or improve their score to a Level 3 (commended) to stay on the distinguished achievement plan. Only the first passing score will be used to calculate GPA and class rank.
Another issue that neither, the legislature or TEA has addressed is how EOC scores are to be converted to numerical grades for student final grade calculations. Holliday ISD’s plan is to take the passing scale score and give it a numerical grade of 70 and develop a chart that scales up to 100 and down to 64. Any score below 64 will still receive a 64. Students scoring below a floor of 65 will be required to retake the EOC for credit.
A second freshman parent informational meeting will be held Thursday January 26, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the Holliday ISD high school auditorium.
If you have questions or concerns please contact Shannon Owen HHS Principal at 586-1624.
