From our December 28, 2000, edition.

TAAS tests to be administered at CISD 

The Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) Exit level tests will be offered this spring at Clarendon High School.

Any qualified individuals who are no longer enrolled in a Texas public school and who wish to register to retake the TAAS (or TEAMS) tests may pick up a registration packet from the Counselor’s office located in the Clarendon Junior High at 822 W. Fifth.

The testing schedule will be as follows: TAAS Writing – February 20, 2001; TAAS Math – February 21, 2001; TAAS Reading – February 22, 2001; TEAMS Math – February 21, 2001; and TEAMS English – February 22, 2001.

Since completed registration forms must be received by the testing center in Austin by January 19, 2001, any qualified individual wanting to take the tests must pick up a registration form as soon as possible. For more information, contact the CCISD Counselor’s office at 874-3241.

The 2000/2001 CHS Sophomores will take the Exit Level TAAS tests for the first time in February. They do not have to register. Since Clarendon High School had a 100% passing rate on all three tests last year, there are currently no juniors or seniors who will have to retest.

The 2000/2001 year will be the next to the last year that the Exit Level TAAS will be administered to high school sophomores in Clarendon and across the state. Beginning in 2003, the state will implement a new assessment program, TAAS 2, which will cause major changes at the Exit Level in 2004. Students will test their junior year instead of their sophomore year and will have to pass four tests instead of three.

The English Language Arts test includes essential knowledge and skills in English 3 and will include both reading and writing. The new TAAS 2 math test will assess knowledge and skills in both Algebra 1 and geometry. The social studies test includes but is not limited to early American and U.S. History. The science test includes biology and integrated chemistry and physics.

These upcoming changes were discussed with parents of Clarendon Junior High students in a meeting on November 30.

Parents who have questions about the new assessment program can contact John Taylor at the CCISD Counselor’s office.