Change at Texas Schools:

What All Parents Need to Know

A Look at the STAARs

Several changes in the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) this year include the new STAAR Accommodated (STARR -A). This version is for students with learning and other disabilities who require the test to be administered in a different format in order to demonstrate knowledge of the grade-level or course curriculum. What was formerly known as the STAAR Modified (STAAR-M) will no longer be given.

Students who in the past were assessed with the STAAR-M will now likely take either the regular STAAR or the new STAAR-A. The student's ARD (Admission, Review, and Dismissal) Committee - comprised of the student's parent(s), teachers, counselors, etc. - will discuss and decide which version will be used.

Also on hand to roll out in this year's round of testing is the redesigned STAAR Alternative (STAAR-Alt) for students with significant cognitive disabilities as determined by an ARD. The revised version will be in a more standardized format than in the past and aligned to the basic core skills that are at the foundation of the grade-level curriculum.

Click here for more information from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on these changes to the STAAR tests.

From Three Diplomas to One

Until this year, students had three high school diploma choices. Under House Bill 5 passed by the Texas Legislature last year, the 2014-15 freshman class and those students who follow will be eligible to earn only one - the Foundation Diploma.

Additionally, incoming freshmen this year will start working with school counselors to create a personal graduation plan and select an area of focus, called an endorsement - something similar to selecting a college major. Students may change the selection at a later time or drop it if they choose. However if they maintain an endorsement focus, they graduate with 4 additional course credits which is highly beneficial to college-bound students.

To ease the transition to the new Foundation Diploma, students who entered high school last year or earlier will continue to pursue the prior diploma options.

Click here to learn about the High School Graduation Toolkit developed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) that provides essential information for students, parents and counselors. At the end of the page you will find a link to the Toolkit. The TEA is also working on a Spanish version.

Disability Rights Texas is working closely with the TEA and other special education advocacy groups to ensure that appropriate accommodations are implemented for students in special education regarding this new requirement as is their right under federal law.

The TEA is expected to issue regulations about these new diploma requirements for students in special education by December 2014.

New Guide to Life After School

For students in special education, a requirement of state and federal law is that they receive services that include individualized planning for their successful transition from school to post-school activities including higher education, vocational training, continuing education, integrated employment, adult services, independent living, or community participation.

Last year the Texas Legislature passed a law requiring the TEA to work with other state agencies to create a comprehensive transition and employment guide that provides information and resources to students and parents to use at a student gets closer to leaving school. The target completion date for this guide is by December 2014. Staff from the Disability Rights Texas Education team are part of the workgroup that is creating the manual.

Once available, every school district and charter school will be required to post the guide on their websites to make it easily accessible to students and parents. A Spanish version will also be available.

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