MIDLAND During this year’s legislative session, the state made modifications to requirements that aim to lift students who perform poorly on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, test.
By law, each district must provide accelerated instruction to students in grades 3-8 or students who did not achieve “approaches or higher” on STAAR or on end-of-course assessments.
The changes laid out in House Bill 1416 modify those in HB 4545, which was passed in during the 87th legislative session, and Andrea Messick, Executive Director of Teaching & Learning, notes that the accelerated instruction is ultimately about finding what’s best for students.
“It’s not about checking a box,” Messick said in a news release. “I can’t thank our Core Content team enough for their work in ensuring accelerated instruction is effective so we can elevate our students and help them be successful.”
Here’s an overview of what has changed in HB 1416.
- Student-tutor ratio: Tutoring group sizes have increased to four students for every tutor. Previously, the student-tutor ratio limited the group to three students. Per TEA, a tutor can be a tutor, paraprofessional or teacher candidate.
- Subjects limit: Tutoring is now limited to two subjects, and districts must prioritize math and reading.
- Accelerated Education Plan: Schools are now required to create an accelerated education plan for each student who fails to achieve “approaches or higher” on two consecutive assessments in the same subject area. Accelerated Learning Committees no longer need to be created for each student.
- Hours requirement: Schools are now required to provide either 15 or 30 hours of accelerated instruction for each student over the course of the school year. Thirty hours is required for students who fall into the “Low Does Not Meet” category of STAAR performance and for any students who failed a third grade test in the previous school year. Previously, all students had to be provided 30 hours of accelerated instruction.
- Exceptions: Students whose current subject-area teacher is designated as part of the Teacher Incentive Allotment program do not have to take part in accelerated instruction. Furthermore, students who take STAAR-Alt 2, are held back a grade, or take substitute high school assessments aren’t subject to requirements.
- Modification and opt-out: HB 1416 clarifies that parents can modify or remove accelerated instruction requirements with a letter to their child’s campus administrator.
- Notification: The law also clarifies that parents must be notified of student failure to perform on applicable tests.
Messick lauded the TIA exception. “Many of our students will have the opportunity to work with a teacher in the TIA program, and those who need accelerated instruction are already learning from someone who is considered among the best in Texas.”
The Teaching and Learning Department is currently working to develop a plan that will meet students’ needs while also supporting campus administrators and teachers to ensure progress can be made across all tested subjects and grade levels.
