Texas Plans To Gradually Increase STAAR Passing Standards
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AUSTIN (AP) — Texas is finally phasing in higher standards to pass its standardized tests — but will do so more gradually then initially planned.
Students began taking State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR tests, in 2012.
But they proved so challenging that the state froze passing standards for the past four academic years, rather than having them get tougher over time.
Education Commissioner Michael Williams announced Tuesday he was lifting the freeze, meaning passing standards will rise beginning this school year.
But he also proposed having passing standards increase only small amounts every academic year until 2021-2022. STAAR was originally designed to feature larger jumps in standards every few years, until 2021-2022.
Despite the eased standards, students have generally struggled to pass STAAR more than previous statewide testing systems.
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