TEA releases scores

The Texas Education Agency has released percentages of third-, fifth- and eighth-grade students who passed the reading portion of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test earlier this month.

However, the Ector County Independent School District said Tuesday it did not have a cumulative score for students in the district.

In ECISD, administrators said they had a list of student names and whether those students passed or failed TAKS reading.

But percentages hadn't been distributed to administrators as of Tuesday. Once they're received, ECISD interim superintendent Hector Mendez said the percentages would be released.

Meanwhile, according to the TEA, statewide eighth-graders surpassed the previous year's passing rate with 92 percent of eighth-graders statewide passing the reading test.

In addition, 51 percent of eighth-graders earned "commended performance" status. Students receive that recognition when they correctly answer 44 or more of 48 test questions.

In 2007, 42 percent of eighth-graders reached commended status while 89 percent of students passed the reading portion of the test.

Other students who didn't pass the reading test on the first administration will have a second chance April 8 and a third chance April 30. If needed, a fourth try will be administered July 2.

Eighth-graders must pass reading and math portions of the TAKS to move on to ninth-grade. Third- and fifth-graders must pass reading to move on to the following grade levels.

In fifth grade, 83 percent of students statewide passed the reading test. That's a 1 percent increase over 2007.

Twenty-nine percent of fifth-graders reached commended status.

In third grade, 88 percent of students statewide taking the English version of the reading test passed. That's a one-point drop compared to 2007.

Thirty-eight percent of third-graders made commended status, the TEA reported.