When are students tested? ¹
3rd through 8th grades
10th through 12th grades

What subjects are tested? ¹
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies

What types of questions are used? ¹
Multiple choice
Extended written response

How are test results used? ¹
High school graduation (exit requirement)
Student diagnosis
Student placement
Identification of students at risk
Curriculum planning
Improvement of instruction
Professional development
Program evaluation
School accreditation
School performance reporting
Warnings to schools
School monetary penalties
School placed on probation or watch lists
School takeovers
School dissolution
School monetary rewards
School awards or recognition
School granted exemptions from regulations
 

What tests are used? ¹
Texas Assessment of Academic Skills

Are students with disabilities exempt? ^{2, 3}
Exemptions given as determined by IEP team.
Students receiving instruction in the essential elements of a subject, but not at grade level, take alternative tests.
Students not receiving instruction in the essential elements of a subject at any grade level might receive different assessments based on appropriate curricular domains.
Exempt students who complete IEP requirements receive a high school diploma.
New alternative assessment for school year 2000-2001.

What accommodations are available so that students with disabilities can participate? ²
List of accommodations approved by state Department of Education.
Other accommodations available based on school or district request and determined on a case-by-case basis.
Accommodations are based on needs of student and routinely received in classroom instruction.

How are scores of students with disabilities reported? ²
School, district, and statewide reports separate ("disaggregate") scores of students with disabilities from scores of students without disabilities.
 

 Footnotes:

¹ Source: PEER Project Survey to expand and update information from Annual Survey of State Student Assessment Programs: Data on 1995-96 Statewide Student Assessment Programs. (Fall 1996). Council of Chief State School Officers.

² Source: PEER Project review of state policy documents. Documents provided by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO). Information confirmed and updated by the PEER Project through direct communication with state officials.

³ NOTE: The IDEA Amendments of 1997 require that all students be included in statewide assessments.

Texas Parent Centers on Disability
Partners Resource Network, Inc.
1090 LongfelloDrive, Suite B
Beaumont, TX 77706-4819
409-898-4684 Voice & TDD
1-800-866-4726 in TX
409-898-4869 Fax
TXPRN@pnx.com
www.PartnersTX.org
Contact: Janice Meyer
 

Grassroots Consortium
6202 Belmark
P.O. Box 61628
Houston, TX 77208-1628
713-643-9576
713-643-6291 Fax
SpecKids@aol.com
Contact: Agnes A. Johnson
Please note: Grassroots is a national multicultural consortium of Community Parent Resource Centers.

Project PODER
1017 N. Main Ave., Suite 207
San Antonio, TX 78212
210-222-2637
1-800-682-9747 in TX only
210-222-2638 Fax
poder@world-net.com
Contact: Yvette Hinojosa

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