TEA cancels June STAAR testing

 The Texas Education Agency has cancelled the June STAAR testing administration for fifth and eighth grades. This decision comes following numerous ongoing reporting issues with the testing vendor.

Commissioner Mike Morath, in a letter to administrators, stated “As a result of ongoing reporting issues with our testing vendor, we will be removing student consequences attached to STAAR testing for grades five and eight for the remainder of the 2015-2016 assessment cycle.”

Due to the issues, and that the STAAR test will not be used for promotion of fifth and eighth grade students, the agency has cancelled the June administration for those exams.

According to Morath, students in those grade who did not perform satisfactorily on the March or May STAAR math or reading exams will not be retested. “We encourage districts to use local discretion to determine on an individual basis whether accelerated should be offered,” said Morath. Morath’s letter also stated districts were not required to convene grade placement committees based solely on STAAR test results for the 2015-2016 school year.

Morath stated that the TEA is moving as fast as possible to address reporting concerns as they are identified.