TEA SOCIAL STUDIES UPDATE
TSSSA CONFERENCE
MARCH 22, 2013
Brenda Tingle
Manager of Social Studies Assessments
Texas Education Agency
AGENDA
STAAR Grade 8 Social Studies
Performance Data
 Sample Test Questions

2
STAAR GRADE 8
SOCIAL STUDIES
STAAR 3-8 Performance Standards



Approved performance standards were posted on
the TEA website in January 2013.
Performance standards were applied to the spring
2012 assessments and reported in January 2013.
These performance standards will be used in state
and federal accountability systems beginning with
2013 tests.
3
STAAR GRADE 8
SOCIAL STUDIES
January 2013 performance reports with
applied standards include:





Confidential student reports
Confidential student labels
Updated confidential campus roster
Updated campus and district summary reports
Updated data files
4
5
6
7
STAAR GRADE 8
SOCIAL STUDIES
The statewide summary shows fairly
consistent performance across categories.




Category
Category
Category
Category
1
2
3
4
=
=
=
=
54%
58%
54%
52%
8
Grade 8
Sample Test Questions
9
STAAR GRADE 8
SOCIAL STUDIES
Topics that might require further review
Ratification
 Immigrant groups
 Reconstruction era

10
STAAR GRADE 8
SOCIAL STUDIES
(4) History. The student understands
significant political and economic issues of
the revolutionary era. The student is
expected to
E. analyze the arguments for and against
ratification. (Readiness Standard)
11
STAAR GRADE 8 SOCIAL STUDIES
SAMPLE ITEM
12
STAAR GRADE 8
SOCIAL STUDIES
(11) Geography. The student understands the
physical characteristics of North America
and how humans adapted to and modified
the environment through the mid-19th
century. The student is expected to
C. describe how different immigrant groups
interacted with the environment
in the United States during the 17th, 18th,
and 19th centuries. (Supporting Standard)
13
STAAR GRADE 8 SOCIAL STUDIES
SAMPLE ITEM
14
STAAR GRADE 8
SOCIAL STUDIES
(9) History. The student understands the
effects of Reconstruction on the political,
economic, and social life of the nation. The
student is expected to
C. explain the economic, political, and social
problems during Reconstruction and evaluate
their impact on different groups; and
(Readiness Standard)
15
STAAR GRADE 8 SOCIAL STUDIES
SAMPLE ITEM
16
STUDENT SUCCESS ON STAAR




Understand the level of performance the
TEKS require
Teach students the academic vocabulary
Teach both readiness and supporting content
and skills
Develop coherent instructional programs that
integrate the scaffolding/building blocks
necessary for students to do course work
17
STUDENT SUCCESS ON STAAR


Emphasize critical/inferential thinking and
application rather than isolated or memorized
content and skills
Reinforce connections between different
content areas (e.g., social studies and reading)
18
WHO WANTS TO SEE MORE
STAAR QUESTIONS?
Sign up to be invited to our educator
committees


review and edit STAAR test questions
collaborate with other social studies educators
http://educator.force.com/TX
19
STAAR Resources Page
(continuously updated)
Assessed curriculum
 Assessment blueprints
 Sample test questions
 Standard-setting
 STAAR™ General Resources
 Questions and Answers



Printable Document (PDF updated 03/09/2012)
Posted on the TEA student assessment website
at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/
20
CURRENT EOC ASSESSMENTS
Statewide summary reports for 2012 are
available on the TEA student assessment
website at
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index3.aspx?id=5155&menu_id=793.
Statewide summary reports include “All
Students;” this refers only to those students
who participated in the EOC assessments.
21
FOR MORE INFORMATION…
Contact us by e-mail at
student.assessment@tea.state.tx.us
brenda.tingle@tea.state.tx.us
lynn.franzen@tea.state.tx.us
doug.spear@tea.state.tx.us
Contact us by phone at 512-463-9536
22
Copyright and Terms of Service
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2002
These materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of the Texas Education
Agency and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the Texas
Education Agency, except under the following conditions:
1) Texas public school districts, charter schools, and Education Service Centers may reproduce
and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for the districts’ and schools’
educational use without obtaining permission from the Texas Education Agency;
2) Residents of the state of Texas may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related
Materials for individual personal use only without obtaining written permission of the Texas
Education Agency;
3) Any portion reproduced must be reproduced in its entirety and remain unedited, unaltered
and unchanged in any way;
4) No monetary charge can be made for the reproduced materials or any document containing
them; however, a reasonable charge to cover only the cost of reproduction and distribution
may be charged.
Private entities or persons located in Texas that are not Texas public school districts or Texas
charter schools or any entity, whether public or private, educational or non-educational, located
outside the state of Texas MUST obtain written approval from the Texas Education Agency and
will be required to enter into a license agreement that may involve the payment of a licensing
fee or a royalty fee. Contact TEA Copyrights with any questions you may have.
23