The overview
FISD uses multiple assessment tools for the following grade levels:
- K-2: mCLASS, which measures phonological awareness skills
- K-5: Benchmark Assessment System, or BAS, which determines a students’ independent, instructional and frustrational reading levels, in which more than one in 10 words are difficult for the reader, according to district documents
- 3-8: Reading State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, which measures a student’s proficiency of grade level based on Texas reading standards
While students in kindergarten through second grade at FISD have met or exceeded the benchmark of the mCLASS assessment in percentages over 70%, the kindergarten grave level made notable improvements in recent years, as students who were either at or above benchmark increased proficiency by at least 5% from 2020-21 to 2023-24, according to district documents.
First graders at FISD have reached rates at or above the benchmark for the mCLASS of at least 78% dating back to the 2020-21 school year, which was when it was first used, according to district documents.
Second graders at FISD have reached rates at or above the benchmark for the mCLASS of at least 72% since the 2020-21 school year, according to district documents.
What else?
Measuring students from kindergarten through fifth grade, over 65% of students have met or exceeded reading levels based on the BAS assessment, according to district documents.
Furthermore, measuring students from third through eighth grade, 15% more students who took the STAAR met grade level performance in spring 2024 compared to spring 2021, according to district documents.
Quote of note
Board trustee Rebecca Hillenburg said she was happy to see the growth in students since the assessment tools were introduced four years ago.
“Think back four years ago, and where we were stepping out off the cliff not knowing where we were going to land, but to think what these tools that we’ve given to teachers that they have applied and what a difference it’s making for kids. It’s great to see the implementation,” Hillenburg said at the meeting.
