April 11, 2000
TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:
This letter is to inform you of your district's opportunity to participate in a significant and exciting task: the development of a new statewide assessment. As you know, the new assessment program was mandated by Senate Bill 103, which was passed during the 76th session of the Texas Legislature. Along with other changes, this bill requires that the exit level assessment be moved to Grade 11. This new assessment will measure academic skills in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies and will be administered for the first time in the 2002-2003 school year.
The development process for this new assessment began in January of 2000, when committees of educators from around the state convened in Austin to begin selection of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) that should be measured on a statewide exit level assessment. This educator review of the state-mandated curriculum resulted in a preliminary set of TEKS statements with accompanying student expectations. Then Texas Education Agency (TEA) curriculum and assessment content-area specialists grouped these statements and student expectations under broad test objectives. The resulting document is a draft set of TEKS statements and student expectations to be measured and the test objectives under which student performance will be reported.
At this stage we need your help as we seek to involve a maximum number of Texas educators in the next step of this process. Very soon your district will be receiving copies of surveys designed to solicit input about the draft objectives and TEKS student expectations for the new Grade 11 exit level assessment. Surveys will be mailed to the attention of the TAAS coordinator in each district office, packaged by campus for high schools, middle schools, and junior high schools. Enough copies of each subject-area survey and the Survey Response Forms will be included in your shipment for each teacher currently assigned classes in the four subject areas to be tested on the Grade 11 exit level assessment. The Survey Response Forms must be returned to TEA no later than May 19, 2000, so your help in expediting the distribution process is essential.
Our plan is to spend this first year reviewing and revising what should be tested on this new exit level assessment. We will rely heavily on the expertise and professional judgment of administrators, curriculum specialists, and teachers as we begin to construct an equitable, reliable, and appropriate testing program. By the end of this year, we will, with your help, have established a solid foundation upon which to base the development of the new assessment program.
Thank you for your interest and cooperation in this vital effort. If you have questions, you may contact the Student Assessment Division at (512) 463-9536.
Sincerely,
Ann Smisko, Associate Commissioner
Curriculum, Assessment, and Technology
cc: TAAS Coordinator
For further information on this topic, contact the Student Assessment Division at (512) 463-9536