Legal Guide Padlet by Madalyn Moriarty https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk State Assessment Requirements for High School Graduation en-us 2023-09-13 20:35:42 UTC 2023-10-03 21:39:01 UTC hello@padlet.com Slide 1 - Professional Perspective/ Audience/ Topic mmoriarty19 https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702762848 One of the mindsets of school counselors is that "Every student should graduate from high school prepared for postsecondary opportunities," (American School Counselor Association, 2019 ,p. 2). The first step in this process, is ensuring students have met all requirements necessary for graduation, including assessment requirements. This legal guide will review the assessment requirements for graduation put forth by state and federal agencies.

Summary of Topic: State and federal law have strict guidelines regarding the assessments that schools must give and, based on student performance, their impact on a student’s ability to earn a highschool diploma. 

Audience: This legal guide will be utilized for educators, namely school counselors and testing coordinators, to ensure state and federal testing requirements are being met for student graduation.

Ensuring state and federal requirements are being met are important for both campus accountability and student achievement. This legal guide focuses primarily on ensuring students meet all assessment requirements necessary for graduation. ]]> 2023-09-13 20:36:57 UTC https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702762848 Slide 2 - Practical Summary mmoriarty19 https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702766740 School counselors are responsible for adhering to all professional standards related to assessment, use assessment results to guide student goal setting and planning, and assist stakeholders in using assessment to guide student goal setting and planning (TEA, 2018). Part of this, is ensuring all students are meeting the minimum assessment requirements for graduation. In order to do this, counselors must make sure all students are participating in the necessary tests. For students who may struggle on these tests, it is the responsibility of the counselor to help the student create a plan for success. 

A major issue emerging is that the current tests required for graduation, STAAR End of Course Exams (EOCs), have a pattern and history of low student performance. This is causing districts to dive deeper into the assessment requirement laid out by the state, to come up with contingency plans for those students who may not successfully pass all five EOCs. Campus accountability ratings, and therefore, funding, is being hugely impacted by EOC performance, so much that school districts across the state of Texas have began suing the Texas Education Agency regarding their new accountability system (Boyd, 2023). All this to say, it would be beneficial for counselors and school districts as a whole to follow along as the state investigates, and possible redefines, the assessment process, accountability, and graduation requirements for Texas public high schools. ]]> 2023-09-13 20:40:05 UTC https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702766740 Slide 3 - Professional Associations mmoriarty19 https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702768920 Texas Education Agency. (2023). District and campus coordinator resources.  https://txassessmentdocs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ODCCM/overview?homepageId=2793209857

Link to full text: https://txassessmentdocs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ODCCM/overview?homepageId=2793209857

The District and Campus Coordinator Resources (DCCR) is a publication put out by the TEA that goes over all EOC requirements, assessment planning and implementation, special testing scenarios, and additional resources including information regarding assessment requirements for specific student scenarios (TEA, 2023). The DCCR is and excellent tool for testing coordinators but houses a large amount of valuable information for school counselors to share with students, as they work toward planning for graduation. This information includes, assessment requirements, dates/timelines, accommodations, and links and instructions for accessing practice tests. Though the resources is lengthy, it is invaluable to all professionals working with students toward meeting graduation requirements in Texas. 

]]> 2023-09-13 20:42:03 UTC https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702768920 Slide 4 - Current News Articles mmoriarty19 https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702769784 Donaldson, E. (2021, March 25). Will Texas seniors who failed STAAR tests be able to graduate on time during the pandemic? Lawmakers debate options that could allow them to walk. The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved October 2, 2023, from https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2021/03/25/will-texas-seniors-who-failed-staar-tests-be-able-to-graduate-on-time-during-the-pandemic-lawmakers-debate-options-that-could-allow-them-to-walk/

Link to full text:
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2021/03/25/will-texas-seniors-who-failed-staar-tests-be-able-to-graduate-on-time-during-the-pandemic-lawmakers-debate-options-that-could-allow-them-to-walk/

  • Texas investigates alternatives for high school graduates who don't pass their final exams so they can graduate on time.
  • Students who should have tested in the 19-20 school year had their STAAR test requirements waived if they passed the corresponding class, as the state assumed that passing the class would result in a passing STAAR score
  • Individual graduation committees might become permanent, and high-stakes exams could be exempt from requirements owing to COVID-19 learning loss.
  • Bills to extend committee use and temporarily ignore state test results are being discussed by lawmakers.
  • The committees want to keep students from suffering academically because of the pandemic.
  • Teachers contend that other metrics besides high-stakes tests can be used to gauge progress.
  • The majority of the students the committees assist are minority students from low-income families.
  • Committees were crucial for graduating students during the pandemic. 
  • STAAR tests were not exempted for the 2020–21 academic year, which presented difficulties for pupils.
  • Seniors from DISD will work with committees to complete remediation tasks and tutorials in order to graduate.
 (Donaldson, 2021)


]]> 2023-09-13 20:42:48 UTC https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702769784 Slide 5 - Current News Articles mmoriarty19 https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702770073 Texas Education Agency. (2022, June 16). TEA releases 2022 STAAR End-Of-Course assessment results. Agency News. Retrieved October 2, 2023, from https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/news-and-multimedia/news-releases/news-2022/tea-releases-2022-staar-end-of-course-assessment-results

Link to full text: https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/news-and-multimedia/news-releases/news-2022/tea-releases-2022-staar-end-of-course-assessment-results

  • Results of the 2022 STAAR EOC were announced by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
  • While English I and II test results stayed stable, there was improvement in Algebra I, Biology, and US history.
  • TEA has confidence in educator initiatives and strategies for academic recovery following COVID-19.
  • Students who failed the EOC assessments will receive remediation through House Bill 4545.
  • Results from STAAR are essential for assessing student performance and reducing learning loss associated with COVID-19.
  • There are several ways to fulfill graduation requirements such as receiving a qualifying score on a substitute assessment or meeting the requirements of an Individual Graduation Committee.
  • There will be no high stakes STAAR results for grades 3 through 8.
  • STAAR will be revised in 2022–2023 in order to better reflect classroom learning.
(Texas Education Agency, 2022)
 



]]> 2023-09-13 20:43:10 UTC https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702770073 Slide 6 - Federal or State Law mmoriarty19 https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702771522 Source of Law type: Federal - Constitutional Law

Citation: U.S. Const. Amen. X

Link to full text: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript#3-3

Bulleted list describing the law and what it requires related to your topic:
  • The 10th Amendment reinforces federalism by stating that any powers not specifically granted to the federal government belong to the states or the people.
  • This suggests that the federal government does not directly determine the graduation requirements for students in public schools in the context of public education.
  • State governments are generally in charge of setting graduation criteria, including assessment requirements.
  • States are allowed to set and enforce their own graduation requirements, which might differ greatly from one state to the next.
  • The 10th Amendment allows each state to customize its educational programs and graduation requirements.
  • As a result, the graduation standards for public education are set at the state and municipal levels rather than being consistent across the nation.
]]> 2023-09-13 20:44:41 UTC https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702771522 Slide 7 - Federal or State Law mmoriarty19 https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702771864 Source of Law type: State - Statutory

Citation: Secondary-Level Performance Required, Tex. Educ. Code § 39.025

Link to full text: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.39.htm

Bulleted list describing the law and what it requires related to your topic:
  • A student is required to score satisfactorily on each End of Course (EOC) assessment in Algebra 1, Biology, English 1, English 2, Us History
  • The graduation requirements for special education kids are decided by their ARD committee.
  • Students may retest if they do not perform satisfactorily without repeating the course, however these students must receive accelerated instruction
  • Schools may issue alternate assessments, approved by the commissioner, to students who fail to perform on the EOC
  • A student may not receive a diploma if they have not performed satisfactorily on the EOC or approved alternate assessment(s)
]]> 2023-09-13 20:45:00 UTC https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702771864 Slide 8 - Federal or State Law mmoriarty19 https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702772057 Source of Law type: State - Administrative

Citation: Participation and Assessment Requirements for Graduation, 19. Tex. Admin. Code § 101.3024

Link to full text: https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=2&ch=101&rl=3024

Bulleted list describing the law and what it requires related to your topic:
  • Students enrolled in 9th grade before the 2011-2012 school year or enrolled in grade(s) 10+ during the 2011-2012 school years must fulfill the testing requirements for graduation by successfully completing the assessment tools outlined in TEC § 39.023-025 which discusses approved assessment instruments ie: STAAR End of Course (EOC) exams, TAKS, TAAS, etc. 
  • If a student fails to meet assessment graduation requirements a least three times, they may receive a high school diploma if they are qualified under TEC § 28.02541 which discusses adoption of alternate graduation requirements
]]> 2023-09-13 20:45:14 UTC https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702772057 Slide 9 - Federal or State Law mmoriarty19 https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702772340 Source of Law type: State - Judicial

Citation: GI Forum v. Texas Education Agency (W.D. Texas January 7, 2000). 

Link to full text: https://casetext.com/case/gi-forum-v-texas-education-agency-wdtex-2000

Bulleted list describing the law and what it requires related to your topic:
  • TEA demonstrates educational necessity for assessments as graduation requirements
  • The state assessment provides an objective evaluation of whether a student has mastered the content required for graduation
  • High stakes testing motivates students to learn the content they will be tested over
  • High stakes testing motivates teachers to rise to educational standards
]]> 2023-09-13 20:45:27 UTC https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702772340 Slide 10 - School or Organization Policy mmoriarty19 https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702773655 School or organization Policy related to topic: End-Of-Course Assessments: Assessment Requirements for Graduation

Citation: Texas Association of School Boards Policy (TASB). 2023. Testing programs: State assessment. Galveston ISD Local Board Policy. https://pol.tasb.org/PolicyOnline/PolicyDetails?key=499&code=EKB#legalTabContent

Link to full text: https://pol.tasb.org/PolicyOnline/PolicyDetails?key=499&code=EKB#legalTabContent

Summary: 
  • A student must meet satisfactory performance on mandated end-of-course assessments (EOC’s) (Algebra 1, Biology, English 1, English 2, US History) in order to be eligible to receive a Texas high school diploma.
  • The standard in place when the student takes their first EOC is the standard they must meet for graduation
  • There are a few exceptions:
    • A student who took separate reading and writing EOC assessments for English 1 or English 2 can meet the assessment requirement if:
      • They performed satisfactorily on either assessment for the course
      • Met the minimum score on the other assessment for the course
      • Earned and overall scale score of 3750 or higher when combining reading and writing scores for that course
    • An emergent bilingual student may receive a provision for English 1 if they have been enrolled in U.S. schools for 3 or fewer years
    • A student earned credit for an EOC course prior to enrolling in Texas public schools (ie: credit earned in private school or out of state)
]]> 2023-09-13 20:46:58 UTC https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702773655 Slide 11 - Ethical Principles mmoriarty19 https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702779766 American School Counselor Association (ASCA). (2019).  ASCA school counselor professional standards and competencies. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/a8d59c2c-51de-4ec3-a565-a3235f3b93c3/SC-Competencies.pdf

Link to full text: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/a8d59c2c-51de-4ec3-a565-a3235f3b93c3/SC-Competencies.pdf

Mindset 3: Every student should graduate from high school prepared for postsecondary opportunities.

This Mindset from the ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards and Competencies lends itself to the topic of assessment requirements for high school graduation as it first and foremost, implies that it is the goal of all high school counselors to assist each student to achieve graduation (ASCA, 2019). With that goal in mind is the understanding that counselors must be aware of all graduation requirements (ie: assessment requirements), inform students of said requirements, and assist them in creating goals and plans to meet the requirements and achieve graduation. ]]> 2023-09-13 20:52:31 UTC https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702779766 Slide 12 - Non-Law Source mmoriarty19 https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702780420 Standardized tests assure diploma is meaningful. (2019, March 5). The Columbian (Vancouver, WA).https://www.columbian.com/news/2019/mar/05/in-our-view-standardized-tests-assure-diploma-is-meaningful/

Link to full text: https://www.columbian.com/news/2019/mar/05/in-our-view-standardized-tests-assure-diploma-is-meaningful/

The editorial discusses another state's consideration of doing away with standardized testing as a graduation requirement. Critics of this concept claim that standardized tests lend to the validity and accomplishment of earning a high school diploma. Those who oppose standardized testing as a graduation requirement do see their necessity in curriculum accountability for teachers. The proposed legislation discusses replacing standardized assessments as graduation requirements with alternative options such as apprenticeships or military tests, such as the ASVAB. ]]> 2023-09-13 20:53:23 UTC https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702780420 Slide 13 - Recommendations/Best Practices mmoriarty19 https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702781495 The following list describe actions and best practices of school counselors as they navigate and work through state assessments as graduation requirements:
  • It is imperative for school counselors to familiarize themselves with the graduation requirements of the students;
  • STAAR End of Course (EOCs) Exams are high-stakes tests that cause anxiety in many high school students, counselors should be providing guidance lessons to provide testing anxiety coping mechanisms;
  • School counselors should be aware of the resources available in the District and Campus Coordinator Resources that is updated yearly by the Texas Education Agency;
  • School counselors should know the testing requirements and exceptions for the student populations they work with;
  • School counselors should actively participate in Individual Graduation Committees as advocates for the student;
  • School counselors should know which students failed STAAR EOCs and ensure they are enrolled in an accelerated instruction program/course;
  • School counselors can work to amend state legislature regarding high stakes testing and graduation requirements;
  • School counselors should monitor the number of times a student unsuccessfully participates in STAAR EOCs and discuss graduation alternatives with them;
  • School counselors should monitor student progress to ensure all students on their caseload are working toward meeting graduation requirements.

]]> 2023-09-13 20:54:49 UTC https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702781495 References mmoriarty19 https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702783340 2023-09-13 20:56:40 UTC https://padlet.com/mmoriarty19/rtgl60wmclz4v4kk/wish/2702783340