The Rattler
April 14th, 2023
Learn Empower Achieve Dream
A Word From Mrs. Randels
Dates To Remember:
4/19/23...STAAR Reading 3rd-5th Closed Campus/No Visitors
4/21/21...Genius Hour 2:10pm
4/25/23....STAAR Science (5th Grade Only)
5/3/23....STAAR Math 3rd-5th Closed Campus/No Visitors
5/17/23...K-2nd Dunk Tank Day
5/18/23...3rd-5th Dunk Tank Day
5/18/23...Family Fun Night Community Event 5:30-7:00pm (details coming)
Fundraiser Update....
Communication Support
If you need immediate assistance, please contact my Administrative Assistant, Heidi Connolly at 737-931-3012 or email her at connollyh@ltisdschools.org.
STAAR Changes 2023-24
GRADES 3, 4, 5 STAAR & HB4545: ACCELERATED INSTRUCTION
What is HB 4545?
In June 2021, the Texas legislature passed House Bill (HB) 4545 which updated Texas Education Code (TEC) 28.0211. The bill established new requirements for accelerated instruction for students who do not pass the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®). Any student who did not pass STAAR grades 3-8 or End-of-Course (EOC) assessments, must receive accelerated instruction delivered in the following school year. Students who were absent for the assessments are also required to receive accelerated instruction.
What is accelerated instruction?
Accelerated instruction is designed to assist students in achieving satisfactory performance on STAAR or End-of-Course (EOC) assessments. It provides targeted instruction on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
Accelerated instruction includes delivering supplemental instruction before or after school (including Saturday if needed) or embedded in the school day. Accelerated instruction delivered in summer will only satisfy the HB 4545 requirements if the criteria for supplemental instruction were met.
An Update on STARR from Mr. Norton
Dear Lake Travis ISD Parents and Guardians,
Within the next few weeks, students across Texas—including Lake Travis ISD—will take the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, better known as STAAR. While we know these tests represent only a small snapshot of your student’s academic achievement, the STAAR does provide us with valuable information that we use when planning for instruction to best support your child’s learning.
This year, the STAAR has been redesigned and is much different from previous assessments. One of the major changes is that multiple choice questions are now limited to not exceed 75% of the test. Accordingly, students will now see questions that ask them to:
- choose the two best answers, versus one best answer
- graph problems
- “drag and drop” responses to a given area
- type a brief string of text to answer questions
Additionally, the Reading Language Arts test at all grade levels will have a written response section. As a district, we have administered two interim assessments this year, providing our students with opportunities to become familiar with these changes.
Accountability Changes
The Texas Education Agency is also introducing several changes to the state accountability system—the method by which each campus receives a letter grade rating based on student performance, growth, and college, career, and military readiness. TEA officials have stated that the changes are so drastic, the new system will likely cause a decrease in ratings for many campuses across the state despite an improvement in student performance.
Because the official accountability manual will not be available to us until later this summer and your child’s final performance level will not be sent to the district until August, there is much that we do not know at this point. We will not receive campus ratings until late September. However, please know that we care about your child’s learning. We will continue to do everything possible to meet their needs and provide them with opportunities for accelerated instruction despite this transition in the accountability system.
We Need Your Help
Students benefit from getting a good night’s sleep before the test, as well as having a healthy breakfast the morning of the assessment. Please encourage your child to take the upcoming STAAR seriously and to give their best effort. Students have the entire school day to take the test if they need it, so they should be encouraged to take their time.
Available Resources
Our Office of Communications and Community Relations has recorded a podcast featuring Kathy Burkbank, our Director of Accountability, who highlights the significant changes facing our students and staff. The podcast is available on our website. Additional resources, including a STAAR practice test, are also available on our website at www.ltisdschools.org/staar. We hope this information will help our students “Reach for the STAAR!”
Finally, attached you will find additional information from LTISD and TEA about the STAAR, including the dates of each test by subject and grade level, as well as important information that parents need to know about the assessment and how it is used.
This is a lot of information, and much of it is new to us as well. Our goal in sending this letter is to partner with you to help our students be successful on STAAR and to be recognized for their hard work!
Sincerely,
Paul Norton
Superintendent of Schools
Thinking With The End In Mind!
Rough Hollow Elementary
Email: randelsv@ltisdschools.org
Website: www.ltisdschools.org/RHE
Location: 4219 Bee Creek Road, Spicewood, TX, USA
Phone: 737-931-3000