THE TESTS

Please note that the following documents have been posted to the Student Assessment division website:

TAKS-Alt. Online Field Test Grades 3-11: Testing Window (Jan. 9 - Feb. 2)

Please note:

TAKS-ALT :
In a communication from Patricia Otto, TEA Student Assessment, we have learned that the TAKS-Alt online system will not be available for viewing after the submission window deadline of April 13, 2007, at 11:59 pm. This means that any printing of documentation forms must be completed before that time on Friday. The system will not be available again until September 1, 2007.

This notice has been posted on the TAKS-Alt online site;  we anticipate a 
broadcast email from TEA/Pearson but as time is of the essence, we wanted to let you know.

Students with disabilities for whom TAKS, even with allowable modifications, is not an appropriate assessment are currently tested using either the State Developed Alternative Assessment (SDAA) II or a Locally Developed Alternate Assessment (LDAA). However, due to requirements contained in the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), these tests will have to be replaced with new tests. The SDAA II, the LDAA and the new slate of replacement tests (TAKS-Inclusive, TAKS-Alternate and 2 Percent Assessment) will be implemented as follows:

SDAA II in 2006 and 2007: The SDAA II will continue to be used during the 2006-07 school year, after which it will be discontinued.

LDAA in 2006 and 2007: The LDAA will continue to be used during the 2006-07 school year for special education students for whom TAKS, TAKS-I and SDAA II are not appropriate; however, the LDAA will be discontinued after this year.

TAKS Inclusive (TAKS-I): This test is for students receiving special education services for whom TAKS, even with allowable modifications, is not an appropriate assessment. Students may only take TAKS-I tests at their enrolled grade level. TAKS-I is initially given at grades and subjects where SDAA is not. After SDAA is discontinued, TAKS-I will expand to include the SDAA II-tested grades and subjects.

TAKS-Alternate (TAKS-Alt): The federal NCLB Act puts a cap of 1 percent on the number of special education students who can be tested on an off-grade level test and still be counted as proficient for purposes of meeting adequate yearly progress (AYP). Only students who are “significantly and cognitively disabled” can be included in this group. The TAKS-Alt is an assessment currently being developed to meet federal requirements for these students. In 2007-08, TAKS-Alt will replace the LDAA for grades 3-9 reading; grades 3-10 and exit-level math; grades 4 and 7 writing; grades 5, 8, 10 and exit-level science; grades 8, 10 and exit-level social studies; and grades 10 and exit-level English language arts. TAKS-Alt is designed to measure the academic progress of students who meet participation requirements.

2 Percent assessment: Proposed regulations under the NCLB also allow states and local school districts to count as proficient for purposes of AYP the scores of up to 2 percent of students who are assessed on modified achievement standards that are aligned with grade-level content standards. Thus, the scores of a total of 3 percent, or roughly 30 percent of a state’s student population who take an off-grade-level test or are tested on modified achievement standards, can count as proficient for purposes of AYP. Accordingly, TEA is developing a test for these students as well.