Texas STAAR scores improve in math and reading

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Texas students’ standardized test scores in reading and math were nearing pre-pandemic levels after falling the year before to levels not seen in a decade, according to results released Friday by the Texas Education Agency.

Each spring, Texas students take the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, test. In mathematics, 40% of all students in grades 3 to 8 reached grade level or above this year, an increase of 5 percentage points from last year. In reading, 52% of all students reached at least the grade level, an increase of 9 percentage points compared to the previous year.

“This gives you a picture of what’s been happening across the state in terms of student ability and it’s largely a story of recovery. It’s a story of hope,” said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. “It’s a testament that we have extraordinary people working in Texas public schools.”

Brian Woods, superintendent of San Antonio’s Northside Independent School District, credits the return of students to their physical classrooms and the work teachers have done despite disruptions over the past year caused by the spread of COVID-19 for the surge of scores too.

“Let’s give credit where credit is due,” Woods said.

Friday’s announcement comes two weeks after the release of results for high school students, which showed a slight improvement.

The STAAR had a 98% participation rate among all students this year. In the senior year, STAAR exams were optional for students, and districts were not graded on results. This year, however, results matter and school districts are ranked according to results. Accountability results for school districts are scheduled to be released in August.

The school administration was concerned that last school year’s results would not improve significantly due to school disruptions caused by Delta and Omicron surges. In already understaffed school districts, teachers and substitutes were out due to COVID, prompting many districts to ask parents to fill out.

While the 2021-22 results showed improvements in math for third through eighth graders, current math levels remain 10 percentage points below 2019 math levels. Texas has had successful progress in math since 2012, when only 34% of students reached grade level or above math results made.

Reading was different, as this school year’s results surpassed those of 2019 and the past decade.

By Race, Hispanics, that matter More than half of Texas’ 5.4 million public school students also saw gains, as 44% achieved grade level or above in reading, a 9 percentage point increase from the previous school year and a 4 percentage point increase from 2019. In math, 34% achieved grade level or higher, an increase of 8 percentage points but still 11 percentage points below the 2019 level.

Among black students, 25% achieved grade level or higher in math, an increase of 5 percentage points from the previous year. In the same subject, 34% matched or exceeded their grade level in 2019. In reading, 40% of students reached grade level or above, an increase of 8 percentage points and 5 percentage points from 2019. Black students make up about 13% of all Texas public school students.

English learners, special needs and economically disadvantaged students also improved their reading and math scores.

In mathematics, 30% of all economically disadvantaged students reached grade level or above, an increase of 7 percentage points from the previous year. However, this is still an 11 percentage point drop from the 2019 results, just before the pandemic broke out.

In reading, 41% of all economically disadvantaged students reached grade level or above, a 10 percentage point increase from the previous year and a 5 percentage point increase from 2019.

Although there have been benefits for these students, there is still a significant gap between them and non-economically disadvantaged students. In mathematics, 55% of non-economically disadvantaged students have reached grade level or above. In reading, 67% reached grade level or above.

Among English learners, 29% were at grade level or above in mathematics, a 9 percentage point increase from the previous year. In reading, 31% reached grade level or above, an increase of 11 percentage points.

13% of students with special education were at grade level or higher in mathematics, a 1 percentage point increase from the previous year. In reading, 17% of these students reached grade level or above, an increase of 5 percentage points.

Morath said the improved results are a result of strong commitment from Texas teachers this year and help from the Texas Legislature, in particular house bill 4545, This requires schools to provide students with 30 hours of targeted instruction based on how many STAAR subjects a student has failed. He also praised the state-mandated teacher training program called Reading Academies. Teachers teaching K-3 are required to complete this training as part of an effort to improve student reading outcomes.

Historically, Texas hasn’t been the best at catching up students after a major school disruption. Students affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 did not meet state reading standards until four years after the hurricane, and in math, they never did, according to TEA.

At latest National Assessment of Educational Progressknown as “The Witness of the Nation”, less than a third of fourth graders in Texas at or above a proficient level and only a quarter of eight students at or above a proficient level.

Northside ISD superintendent Woods said the implementation of HB 4545 has been difficult as school districts continue to struggle with staffing shortages. Once school is back without COVID disruptions, Woods believes there will be faster improvement.

“The teachers will just have more time with the students,” he said. “That’s the key.”

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