Standardized Testing In Texas

STAAR that are not tied to the TEKS. Providing quality instruction under these guidelines is impossible. The STAAR’s predecessor TAKS had the same results lending credibility to Stroups theory that the test Every year since 1980 the State of Texas has implemented some form of standardized testing. The theory behind these tests is to monitor the efficacy of teachers and performance of student as well as prepare them for life after graduation. These standardized tests are used for creating marketable young adults. The first of these Standardized tests in Texas was the TABS, Texas Assessment of Basic Skills. The TABS test was utilized from 1984 to 1990. This test was administered to students in grades 1,3,5,7,9. If a student failed, they continued …show more content…
So, why is the state still using it? The STAAR test is the first test the state contracted out to a testing group. The first group was the Pearson Group. The Pearson Group created the test based on information given to them by the state and was responsible for distributing the tests to all districts in a timely manner. The Pearson Group was also responsible for the computer program grading system making this test effortless in administering and grading. The performance of the Pearson Group proved to be riddled with major flaws. In 2015 the Pearson Group lost its contract with the state after all math assessments had to be thrown out due the wrong test being sent out statewide. This in addition to instances of tests never arriving and numerous grading errors sealed the Pearson’s Group fate. The current testing group is Educational Testing Service (ETS). This company is responsible for the SAT. However, we are not seeing a change in the test. Passing rates have not moved from seventy percent. There are still many questions that are unanswerable or require a higher level of thinking that surpasses the age of the students being tested. Even though the STAAR has proven to be ineffective the state continues to use it. At this point many state officials are convinced the STAAR is effective and the most accurate test to date. It is recognized as being the most challenging but, not too challenging for the ages and grades it is given …show more content…
The STAAR is supposed to evaluate what students have learned during the school year. In doing so, teachers are also tested. Customarily, teachers use multiple testing formats to access the true understanding their students. The format of the STAAR does not give students the option of multiple formats. Per Walter Stroup, an associate professor at the UT Austin School of Public Education, the test format is to blame. The tests design is an item-response theory (IRT) model scores students based on the performance of others rather than what they’ve learned, (Texas Monthly,2015) With this type of testing students are given a question and multiple answer choices. The student is essentially tested on how well they can guess. Also, everyone has their own learning style, a single format test does not allow for individual learning styles. Stroup’s findings indicate that the STAAR test format has nothing to do with what is being done in the classroom but, how well students can take a test. (Texas Monthly,2015) TEA continues to stand by the STAAR and insists that the problem lies with the quality of instruction. However, instruction is based on the TEKS and the STAAR is supposedly designed around the TEKS but there are numerous questions on the format is to blame. (Texas Monthly,2015) With these findings it would seem Texas would reevaluate their methods of