In a nutshell
GISD's STAAR scores released in August show the district improved year over year in math and science but had some small declines in passing rates for reading across several grade levels. During a board workshop held Sept. 5, district officials shared some analysis of contributing factors observed statewide and what next steps will be taken to improve outcomes of testing in the coming school year.
The context
Wes Vanicek, GISD's chief strategist for assessment and feedback, said there was a statewide reduction in scores on the STAAR reading portion due to the inclusion of the writing component. Prior to 2023, the writing exam had been administered and scored separately. With the combined exam, Vanicek said, the scores did improve among older students with higher literacy skills.
“We do see some improvements here from last year from the year prior,” Vanicek said. “I suspect that that writing will have a lower impact on on the upper grades, just as the student literacy improves or increases.”
Next steps
Vanicek said the district will implement the following steps to address areas of needed academic support in the classroom:
- Combine STAAR data with other assessments to determine where students need intervention
- Adjust curriculum for academic rigor if necessary
- Continue teaching to new testing formats, including paired response
- Focus on literacy instruction
