Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment

The Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment (TMSFA) is a screener that consists of two subtests Passage Reading Fluency, and Word Reading Fluency. The range of difficulty levels used in both the Passage Reading and Word Reading Fluency subtest is intended to reflect authentic reading requirements and diagnose skill deficits for intervention. The Houston Independent School District administers this assessment as required by  the Texas Education Agency.

Per the TEA:

§101.6001. Texas Middle School Diagnostic Reading Assessment.

(a)  Each school district shall administer during the first six weeks of the school year the diagnostic reading instrument specified in subsection (c) of this section to each student in Grade 7 whose performance on the Grade 6 statewide reading assessment did not meet the passing standard. The admission, review, and dismissal committee or the Section 504 committee for each student who was administered an alternate form of the state assessment in reading may determine if the diagnostic assessment is appropriate for use with that student.

(b)  A student in Grade 7 who does not have a score for the statewide reading assessment in Grade 6 may be given an equivalent comprehension assessment. If that student does not meet the passing standard, then the student must be administered the diagnostic reading assessment specified in subsection (c) of this section.

(c)  A school district must use the Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment and/or an alternate diagnostic reading instrument approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). A district may submit to the TEA an alternate diagnostic reading instrument for approval.

(d)  An alternate diagnostic reading instrument must:

(1)  be based on published scientific research in reading;

(2)  be age and grade-level appropriate, valid, and reliable;

(3)  identify specific skill difficulties in word analysis, fluency, and comprehension; and

(4)  assist the teacher in making individualized instructional decisions based on the assessment results.

(e)  A school district shall provide additional reading instruction and intervention to each student in Grade 7 who did not meet the passing standard on the Grade 6 state assessment in reading as appropriate to improve the student's reading skills in the areas of need identified by the diagnostic reading assessment.

Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, the Interventions Office will partner with the Student Assessment department to record TMSFA results in OnTrack. 

Additional information will be shared here as it becomes available.

More information and resources related to the administration of the TMSFA can be found here.