1. TAKS What Students And Parents Can Do To Prepare Brought to you by the teachers and administrators of BHS who want your child to succeed in life.

2. What is TAKS? Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills Yearly testing program Measures student’s mastery of the state’s curriculum Accountability system for all public schools

3. What kinds of things will students need to know for TAKS? The state curriculum defines what the students should know (TEKS) Teacher’s daily lessons utilize Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) based on the TEKS For more info, visit http://www/tea/state/tx/us/teks/index.h tml http://www/tea/state/tx/us/teks/index.h tml

4. Are school districts required to administer the TAKS? Yes Senate Bill 103 requires a statewide assessment system in Texas The federal program No Child Left Behind also requires it.

5. What must a student score on a test to pass? A student must score a 2100 on each test to pass A student must also score a 2 (rated as “somewhat effective”) or higher on the composition at the 10 th /11 th grade to earn a passing score on the English Language Arts in addition to the 2100 total score

6. Are the TAKS tests being phased out at the high school level? Eventually Legislation was passed in the summer of 2007 Establishes an End-of-Course (EOC) exam system for students to earn diploma Students who are in the 6 th grade in 08/09 will be the first class affected by this change

7. Does TAKS affect graduation requirements? Yes Each student must pass the exit level TAKS (11 th grade), in addition to the required credits in coursework, to get a high school diploma Subject areas: English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies Tests are separate. If a student only fails one test, they only have to retest that one subject. Students have 5 opportunities generally for testing

8. What does the TAKS English Language Arts focus on? Requires level of reading and writing performances of students that have completed English I, II and are enrolled in English III coursework Multiple choice, short answer and essay

9. What does the TAKS Math focus on? Assesses skills learned in Algebra I and Geometry Assesses skills learned in 8 th grade math (probability and statistics)

10. What does the TAKS Science focus on? Concepts and skills that are components of Integrated Physics and Chemistry and Biology

11. What does the TAKS Social Studies focus on? Focuses on US History (most 11 th grade, but some from revolutionary- era content from 8 th grade course) Also covers information from World Geography and World History

12. What happens in May if seniors have not passed TAKS, but have required credits? In this situation, students will not be awarded their diplomas In this situation, students will not be allowed to walk/participate at graduation The students can continue to retest in the summer, with hopes of a summer graduation.

13. Is there any advantage to earning really high scores on the exit-level TAKS? Yes Many colleges and universities have policies allowing students with excellent TAKS scores to be exempt from certain college entrance tests (THEA< ASSET< COMPASS< ACCUPLACER) This saves time, fees, and unnecessary “developmental” coursework See details at http://www/thecb.state.tx.us/facts/cd/Page8.htm http://www/thecb.state.tx.us/facts/cd/Page8.htm

14. What is “Commended Performance”? Refers to an individual student achievement and honor on a test Students must score a 2400 scale score, which is considerably above the state passing standard (2100).

15. How do I know if my student earned “Commended Performance”? Look on your student’s performance report Find the column “Commended Performance” Yes or no in the column will indicate whether your student earned the distinction

16. What do 9 th graders take on TAKS? (pre-graduation) Reading Math Research shows that students who pass the pre- graduation TAKS tests tend to pass the exit level TAKS

17. What do 10 th graders take on TAKS? (pre-graduation) English Language Arts Math Science Social Studies Research shows that students who pass the pre-graduation TAKS tests tend to pass the exit level TAKS.

18. What do 11 th graders take on exit level TAKS? (Graduation!!) English Language Arts Math Science Social Studies

19. Do students receiving special education services take regular TAKS? A student’s ARD committee will decide which testing situation is best for a student. Options are: –TAKS Accommodated –TAKS Modified –TAKS Alternate –TAKS

20. Is TAKS translated into other languages at the high school? No Only available at grades 3-6.

21. Are limited English proficient students exempt from testing? No Child Left Behind requires LEP participation in state testing Majority take regular TAKS Other options: –LAT Reading – immigrants in 2 nd /3 rd year of school in US –LAT Math – all immigrants take this test if in 1st – 3 rd year in US schools –LAT Science – all immigrants take this test if in 1 st -3 rd year in US schools

22. How will students indicate answers on the TAKS? Multiple choice – students choose the best response and bubble in the corresponding letter on the answer sheet Griddable math items – students work out the problem and record the numeric solution on the answer sheet as individual digits Short Answer – students will compose a brief response Composition – students will follow the writing process to the final draft stage.

23. Example – 9 th grade math What is the numerical solution to the statement “15 less than twice a number is equal to five”? –A. n = 5 –B. n = 10 –C. n = 20 –D. n = 25

24. Example – 10 th Grade Social Studies During the 1700s the textile industry became one of the first to use steam –powered machinery. This technological innovation increased production and led to –A. greater profits and a demand for more workers –B. an end to the use of child labor –C. a safer work environment and shorter workdays –D. a decrease in demand for raw materials

25. TAKS Test Date March 3th 9 th Grade – Reading 10 th Grade – English Language Arts 11 th Grade – English Language Arts

26. TAKS Test Date April 28th 10 th Grade - Math

27. TAKS Test Date April 29th 11 th Grade - Math

28. TAKS Test Date April 30 th 9 th Grade – Math 10 th Grade - Science 11 th Grade - Science

29. TAKS Test Date May 1 st 10 th Grade – Social Studies 11 th Grade – Social Studies

30. What else can parents do to help? Encourage the Three A’s – Academics, Attendance, and Attitude Call your counselor or our AP for Instruction for help Talk with your student’s teachers and send them for tutoring Access the web: –http://track.uttelecampus.org/http://track.uttelecampus.org/ –http://www.tea.state.tx.us.student.assessment/parents.htmlhttp://www.tea.state.tx.us.student.assessment/parents.html http://perspective.pearsonaccess.com/perspective/appmanage r/tx/family http://perspective.pearsonaccess.com/perspective/appmanage r/tx/family

31. What is the bottom line? ALL STUDENTS MUST PASS THE EXIT LEVEL TAKS TESTS AND HAVE THE REQUIRED CREDITS TO RECEIVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA

32. What will you be doing in May of their Senior year? STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PASS ALL OF THE EXIT LEVEL TAKS TESTS WILL NOT PARTICIPATE OR WALK IN THE GRADUATION CEREMONY. Will your kids walk?

33. Hang in there! It all pays off in the end.