Katy ISD announces STAAR scores will not affect course grades

The Katy Independent School District recently announced that student's scores on State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness end-of-course examinations will not affect their final course grades for the second year in a row.

According to a school district press release, Texas Commissioner of Education Michael Williams has deferred the requirement that states STAAR scores be counted as 15 percent of a students final grade in each tested subject.

"Deferring the 15 percent rule for this school year relieves some of the pressure being felt in Texas districts as we continue the transition to a more rigorous accountability system," Williams said in a statement posted on the Texas Education Agency's website. "This deferral also allows the Texas Legislature ample opportunity to address the various issues and concerns that have been expressed about implementation of the new system."

The move is also intended to provide students with the ability to learn rather than stressing about a test score.

"Katy ISD will again participate in the deferral as we feel that this will allow both students and teachers an opportunity to better understand STAAR, while focusing on the subject matter and not just a final test score," said Christine Caskey, chief academic officer of Katy ISD, in the release.

For more information about the Texas Education Agency, visit www.tea.state.tx.us.

For more information about Katy ISD, visit www.katyisd.org.