In spring 2012, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) replaced the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). The STAAR program includes annual assessments for
- Reading and mathematics, grades 3–8
- Writing at grades 4 and 7
- Science at grades 5 and 8
- Social studies at grade 8
- End-of-course assessments for English I, English II, Algebra I, biology and U.S history.
Student results on specific state assessments are used to determine a rating for each district and school. Initial district and school ratings are now posted under the STAAR-based Texas accountability system Under the new accountability system the district and campuses may receive a rating of Met Standard, Improvement Required, or Not Rated. The new accountability system contains four performance indexes each with a category of Met Standard or Did Not Meet Standard. Campuses that receive a Met Standard rating are eligible for Academic Distinction designations.
A-F ratings 2016-TEA released a legislative report showing the ratings that each district and campus would have received for 4 of the 5 domains for the 2015–16 school year if the A–F rating system had been in place for that year. The ratings contained in the legislative report are not official and are simply being presented by TEA as one possible, but not necessarily final, approach to an A-F grading system.