December 3, 2019      3:30 PM

Initial UT Austin study appears to back the readability of STAAR

On every grade level and across subjects, the readability of items appeared to be appropriate, based on the assessment of outside reviewers

A lawmaker-mandated outside assessment of the STAAR appears to side with the Texas Education Agency on the appropriate readability level of texts in the assessments for elementary and middle school.

Superintendents strenuously objected to the STAAR last session, citing a study by faculty at Texas A&M University - Commerce that noted that the reading level of assessments was often two grade levels beyond the ability of Texas students.

While the researchers were often quoted as using “lexile standards,” the actual research was based on a variety of reading assessments. The higher the Lexile measure, the higher the student's reading level.

By Kimberly Reeves

Copyright December 03, 2019, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved