Preparing for STAAR:
End-of-Course Exams
North East ISD
Spring 2012
Version 3.1
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UNDER CONSTRUCTION
TEA has yet to finalize several crucial decisions
regarding STAAR exams. With the new assessment
program, current testing policies, regulations and
procedures are being reevaluated and will be modified
as necessary to ensure that they fit the new structure
and purpose of the STAAR program.
Therefore, as the District receives updated information
from the Texas Education Agency throughout the
school year, specific details concerning the
implementation of the EOC exams will be
communicated to all students and parents/guardians.
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What is STAAR?
• State of Texas Assessments of Academic
Readiness (STAAR)
 Beginning in the 2011-12 school year, the Texas
Education Agency (TEA) will be launching STAAR to
replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and
Skills (TAKS)
 STAAR will include new graduation requirements for
first time ninth-grade students in 2011-2012
• Based on Texas Essential Knowledge and
Skills (TEKS)
• STAAR tests for grades 3-8 and End-of-Course
exams for high school-level courses
 Students enrolled in high school before 2011-2012
will continue to take TAKS
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Who will take STAAR?
• First time ninth-grade students entering high school in
2011-2012 and enrolled in EOC courses
English **
Science
Social
Studies
Algebra I
English I
Biology
World
Geography
Geometry
English II
Chemistry
World
History
Algebra II*
English III*
Physics
U.S. History
Math
• Other high school students enrolled as a 9th grader
before 2011-2012 are required to pass TAKS to
graduate, but may be selected to take an EOC field test
for courses in which they are enrolled
*Must meet additional passing standards for Recommended High School Program and
Distinguished Achievement Program
** The English EOCs will include separate reading and writing components
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EOC Testing Calendar
• Mar. 26, 2012: English I Writing; English III
Writing
• Mar. 27, 2012: English I Reading; English III
Reading
• Mar. 28, 2012: English II Writing
• Mar. 29, 2012: English II Reading
• May 7 - 18, 2012: Algebra I; Algebra II;
Biology; Chemistry; Geometry; Physics;
World Geography; World History; U.S.
History
The assessments commonly taken by ninth-graders are underlined.
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Increased Rigor of STAAR
• Greater emphasis on college and career
readiness
• Lengthier and more rigorous assessment
• 4-hour time limit
• All ELL students will participate
• All Special Education students participate
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Increased Rigor of STAAR
• Emphasis on expository and non-fiction
reading and writing
• English I, II and III administered over two
days to assess writing more comprehensively
• Two essays required in writing
• Essays limited to 26 lines
• Greater number of open-ended
(griddable) questions in mathematics and
science
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Graduation Requirements for students first
enrolled in Grade 9 or below in 2011-2012
Credits
Three Graduation Programs:
Minimum High School Program
(22 credits)
•4 credits of English; 3 math; 2 science; 3
soc. std.; 1 P.E.; 0.5 health(through healthy
lifestyles); 0.5 speech; 1 fine arts; 1
academic elective; 6 electives; must see
counselor for MHSP
Recommended High School Program
(26 credits)
• 4 credits each of English, math, science,
soc. std.; 2 credits in other languages; 1
P.E.; 0.5 health (through healthy lifestyles);
0.5 speech; 1 fine arts; 5 elective credits;
default graduation program
Distinguished High School Program
(26 credits)
•same as RHSP except 3 credits in other
languages; 4 elective credits; 4 advanced
measures
End of Course Exams(EOCs)
• Students must meet passing standards for 8 to 12
EOCs
• Minimum High School Program (8 to 12 EOCs)
• Recommended High School Program (12 EOCs)
• Distinguished Achievement Program (12 EOCs)
• EOC tests results must be included as 15% of the
student’s final grade for the course
• Minimum High School Program: It is possible that
some students will need to perform satisfactory on as
few as eight EOC assessments
• Recommended High School Program: Students must
meet Satisfactory Academic Performance (Level II) in:
• English III and Algebra II
• Distinguished Achievement Program: Students must
meet Advanced Academic Performance standard
(Level III) in:
• English III and Algebra II
• Each of the four foundation subjects (Math,
Reading/ELA, Social Studies, Science) have a
minimum score and a cumulative score requirement
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Level I
Unsatisfactory
Academic
Performance
Minimum Score
New Student Performance Levels
Level II
Satisfactory Academic
Performance
Level III
Advanced Academic
Performance
RHSP: English III and
Algebra II
DAP: English III and
Algebra II
• Cumulative Score: # of EOC’s taken in a content area
multiplied by a passing score
 for example: 3 X 70=210
• College Readiness: score in Algebra II and English III
EOC that measures a student’s readiness to enroll and
succeed in entry level Math or English college courses
without remediation
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Cumulative Score Requirement – TEA Will
Set Standards in April, Not February
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What Does the Law Say About EOCs?
• The STAAR EOC assessment
scores will account for 15% of
a student’s final grade in the
course.
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How Will the Final Course
Grade be Distributed?
 85% from teacher
•
•
•
•
Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II
Biology, Chemistry, Physics
English I, English II, English III
World Geography, World History
and U.S. History
 15% from EOC
• The STAAR EOC assessment
scores will account for 15% of the
student’s final course grade
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ALG I
Semester
1
Semester
2
Year Average
EOC
Final
Course
Grade
Credit
70
76
73
68
72
1.0
(70+76)/2*.85
=62.1
(68*.15)
=10.2
62.1 + 10.2
=72.3
Calculation
ALG I
Semester
1
Semester
2
Year Average
EOC
Final
Course
Grade
Credit
70
72
71
60
69
0.0
(70+72)/2*.85
=60.4
(60*.15)
=9.0
60.4 + 9.0
=69.4
Calculation
ALG I
Calculation
Semester
1
Semester
2
Year Average
EOC
Final
Course
Grade
Credit
90
94
92
95
93
1.0
(90+94)/2*.85
=78.2
(95*.15)
=14.3
78.2 + 14.3
=92.5
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Eng I
Semester
1
Semester
2
Year Average
70
76
73
Reading EOC
EOC
Final Course
Grade
Credit
73
1.0
68
(68*.075)
=5.1
75
Writing EOC
(75*.075)
=5.6
Calculation
(70+76)/2*.85
=62.1
62.1+5.1 +5.6
=72.8
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STAAR EOCs and Course Credit
• All EOC courses will be worth 1.0 credit
• Semester credits for EOC courses are no
longer awarded
• Credit will be awarded based on two
factors:
 The year average plus the EOC grade equals a
passing grade (70% or higher)
• If a student’s final course grade is less than
a 70 after 15% of an EOC score is applied,
then the course credit is denied until the
student improves the final grade
• Final course grades and course credits will
appear on the student’s transcript
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Checking for Understanding
Case #1
Sem 1
Sem 2
EOC
Final Year Course
Grade
70
72
55
69
(55*.15)=8.
25
(70+72)/2*.85)=60.35
8.25+60.35=68.6
Does the student earn credit for the year?
Case #2
75
58
95
71
(95*.15)=14
.25
(75+58)/2*.85)=56.53
14.25+56.53=70.78
Does the student earn credit for the year?
Case #3
63
63
95
68
(95*.15)=14
.25
(63+63)/2*.85)=53.55
14.25+53.55=67.8
Does the student earn credit for the year?
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NEISD’s Choice:
Will Special Education Options
Include 15%?
Yes, STAAR Modified and
Alternate tests can be used for
15%
• Phase in as systems are
developed
• ARD must concur
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Students Taking Credit-awarding
High School Courses While in
Middle School
• Required to take the
EOC for the course in
which the student is
enrolled
• Required that EOC will
be averaged as 15% of
the final course grade
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NEISD’s Recommendation:
Class Rank
Current 8th and 9th graders:
• Continue the current practice of
awarding rank points by semesters
that are not influenced by EOC exams
through high school
Beginning with 9th graders entering
high school in 2013-2014 (current 7th
graders):
• Double the final grade as rank points
for the year
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NEISD’s Recommendation:
Calculating Rank Points
Beginning with 9th Graders entering high school
in 2011-2012 (current practice) – EOCs will not
impact rank or GPA calculations
ALG I
Semester
1
Semester
2
Year Average
EOC
Final
Course
Grade
70
76
73
68
72
(70+76)/2*.85
=62.1
(68*.15)
=10.2
62.1 + 10.2
=72.3
Calculation
Rank Points
Rank Points
70+76 = 146 Rank Points
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NEISD’s Recommendation:
Calculating Rank Points
Beginning with 9th Graders entering high
school in 2013-2014
ALG I
Calculation
Semester
1
Semester
2
Year Average
EOC
Final
Course
Grade
70
76
73
68
72
(70+76)/2*.85
=62.1
(68*.15)
=10.2
62.1 + 10.2
=72.3
Rank Points
72 * 2 = 144 Rank Points
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NEISD’s Recommendation
Will EOCs be weighted for rank when
current 7th graders start 9th grade?
Final Grade on AAR = 92
Eng III AP
Calculation
Semester
1
Semester
2
Year Average
EOC
Final
Course
Grade
90
94
92
90
92
(90+94)/2*.85
=78.2
(90*.15)
=13.5
78.2 + 13.5
=91.7
100.9 (78.2 * 1.29 (course weight)) + 13.5= 114.4
114.4 * 2 semesters = 228.8 Rank Points
Begins when current 7th graders start 9th
grade in 2013-14
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NEISD’s Recommendation:
How Many Retakes Count for
Rank?
•
Beginning with 9th Graders
entering high school in 20132014 (current 7th graders)
•
The first score earned counts for
rank
•
Subsequent retakes will not
impact rank
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NEISD’s Recommendation:
Ranking the Final 7th Semester for
Seniors
Senior year rank calculation
• First semester grades in
senior year – calculated
without EOC result
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General Rules for STAAR
Retakes
• Students may retest for any
reason, but must retake the EOC
test if performance does not
reach the minimum score
• A student may not be required to
retake a course as a condition of
retaking the EOC assessment for
that course
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NEISD’s Recommendation:
Retakes for Final Course Grade on
Transcript
• How many times will NEISD
calculate EOC retakes into
the final course grade?
Until the student earns
course credit
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NEISD’s
Recommendation:
Retakes for Final Course grade:
Until the student earns course credit
Semester
1
ALG I
Calculation
70
Semester
2
64
Year Average
EOC
90
84
Final
Course
Grade
Credit
0.0
70
67
68
67
(70+64)/2*.85
=57.0
(68*.15)
=10.2
57.0 + 10.2
=67.2
1.0
Retake EOC Exam
The 90 earned on the EOC after receiving 1.0
credit can be used for the cumulative total;
however, it will not impact the final course grade.
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NEISD’s
Recommendation:
Retakes for Final Course grade:
Until the student earns course credit
ALG I
Semester
1
Semester
2
Year Average
EOC
Final
Course
Grade
Credit
70
70
64
67
70
68
70
67
1.0
0.0
(70+64)/2*.85
=57.0
(68*.15)
=10.2
57.0 + 10.2
=67.2
Calculation
59.5
Course Recovery
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Options for Remediation
• Course recovery
• Campus-based Summer School
(EOC Prep)
• Regular Summer School
• Remediation classes the following
year
• Tutoring during the school year
• Online courses (in planning stage)
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Our Common Goal
• To ensure your student graduates
high school on time
Parents should stay current on where
your student is now on the EOC
journey and ask questions along the
way.
School will make recommendations to
help your student succeed
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NEISD’s Recommendation:
Number of End-of-Year Report Cards
for 2011-12
• Two for all 9th graders
• Two for 7th and 8th
graders in Algebra I or
Geometry
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TENTATIVE Timeline for End-of-Year
• May 30, 2012 – last day of school
• May 31, 2012 – teachers enter grades
• June 1, 2012 – preliminary report cards mailed home
• June 8, 2012 – EOC results received – final report
cards mailed home
• June 11, 2012 – First day for Elementary and Middle
School Summer School
• June 13, 2012 – First day for Campus-based Summer
School
 EOC Prep, Course Recovery, TAKS Success
• June 13, 2012 – High School Summer School begins
• July 9, 2012 – EOC retakes begin
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Closing Comments
• Questions
Additional information, videos and
resources available at
www.neisd.net/staar
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