TEA Commissioner Defers STAAR 15% Requirement

The end-of-course assessment will still be necessary to fulfill graduation requirements

February 17, 2012

Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott announced today that is he deferring implementation of the new 15 percent grading requirement connected to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness end-of-course examinations. The 15 percent rule requires that State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exam performance count for 15 percent of a student's final grade.

According to a TEA news release, Scott issued a statement concluding that "the ultimate decision whether to include end-of-course exam scores as part of course grades will be determined locally by school districts and charter schools."

Though the law still requires ninth grade students in the 2011-2012 school year to complete the end-of-course assessments to fulfill graduation requirements, districts and charter schools will only need to notify TEA of their decision on whether or not to implement the 15 percent rule.