Education Commissioner Mike Morath previewed two major changes to the state's student accountability assessments during the State Board of Education's June meeting in Austin. TEA is preparing to incorporate writing into the grades 3-8 STAAR reading tests and eliminate the use of substitute assessments, such as the SAT or ACT, in the state's accountability system.
The reading exam changes are due to the passage of HB 3906, which phases out the grades 4 and 7 STAAR writing tests over the next three years.
Texas must eliminate the use of substitute assessments in the state's accountability system to meet U.S. Department of Education requirements
, but Morath said high schoolers could still take the SAT or ACT in lieu of passing an end-of-course exam to meet graduation requirements.
