Following the April 23 release of preliminary STAAR Reading test results from fifth- and eighth-grade district students, Superintendent Mike Miles said he was encouraged by data that showed student growth in both grades.
“While they represent only two of the 21 exams our students will take this year, they are a good start, especially as they are only the first administration of these two exams,” Miles said.
Below is a chart showing what percentage of eighth-grade Dallas ISD students passed the STAAR Reading test this year compared to what percentage of seventh-grade students passed the test last year.
And here is a chart showing the Dallas ISD percentage increase compared to the state as a whole.
Below is a chart showing what percentage of fifth-grade Dallas ISD students passed the STAAR Reading test this year compared to what percentage of fourth-grade students passed the test last year. The chart separates the English and Spanish results for the Reading test, showing a 12 percent gain among the fifth-graders who took the test in Spanish. For reference, about 35 percent of the fifth-graders took the test in Spanish.
And here is a chart showing the Dallas ISD percentage increases compared to the state as a whole.
The district will incorporate all STAAR results into the School Effectiveness Indices, which identify schools that experience higher overall improvement in students’ scores. The state does not have a similar metric to gauge this type of improvement for all students and subjects.
Below is the full letter that Miles sent to district principals:
I’m encouraged by the STAAR results that were just released. While they represent only two of the 21 exams our students will take this year, they are a good start, especially as they are only the first administration of these two exams. Now it is time to focus your instruction even more and help students who did not pass the first time.
I am also encouraged because of the growth of cohort groups. We have SEIs as a district to capture the growth of students; there is no similar metric at the State level. However, we can get a broad measurement of growth by looking at cohort groups or graduating class data.
We have a long way to go, but are making progress. You and your teachers’ work is paying off – let’s run through the finish.
Mike
