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In Texas,
the state legislature determines, through law, what students in grades
K-12 are to learn in public educational institutions. These basic skills and
concepts, as determined by the legislature, represent required knowledge
that students are expected to receive instruction in and demonstrate
mastery of before high school graduation.
This "required knowledge" is listed and published in a
document entitled Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills and is
commonly referred to as the "TEKS".
These TEKS replace and expand on the former Essential Elements and
were incorporated into district curriculums across the state beginning
with the 1998-1999 school year. It is this listing of skills and concepts
upon which the tested items on the resulting state assessment instrument,
the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test, are based. No
longer a "minimum competency test", the TAKS test (which replaced
the TAAS in the 2002-2003 school year) is now comparable to the Iowa Test
of Basic Skills (ITBS) or the Metropolitan test, both of which are used
across the United States.
Currently, students in grades 3-5 are tested yearly through use of
the TAKS test, the state's academic accountability/assessment instrument.
Third,
fourth and fifth grade students take the Reading
and Math sections in late spring. In addition to these two sections,
fourth graders also complete a Writing section earlier in the spring, and
our fifth grade students complete the Science section during the regular
late-April testing cycle.
Individual student test results for all three grades are received back in
the district during the first week of June. Students and parents receive
their copy of the test results shortly thereafter.
There are several important points to remember during this testing
cycle:
- It is extremely important that the student arrive on time for
school during all days of TAKS testing.
- Please do not schedule non-emergency dental or doctor
appointments during TAKS test dates.
These dates are listed in the monthly school newsletter, The
Nottingham Shield, and on the school's marquee.
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