Goal #2 – Central Texas eliminates achievement gaps for all students while improving overall performance.

Central Texas enjoys high performance rates in many districts on many indicators of student achievement, yet large gaps among ethnic and socioeconomic groups remain. As Hispanic, Black and Economically Disadvantaged students often have passing rates 30 points lower than the average on Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests.

Demographic and economic projections for the region tell us that we can only be globally competitive if all our students succeed.

 

Draft Blueprint Objective:

  • 8th graders across all subpopulations achieve 60% higher outcomes on state assessments, both passing and commended by 2015.
Action Strategies*
Draft Success Indicators*

  1. Align curriculum across grades for critical transition years: Kindergarten – 1st Grade, 5th grade – 6th grade, 8th grade - 9th grade, high school - college. 

  2. Develop ELL program standards across the region to create common interventions and content for this highly mobile population.

  3. Create incentive programs for teacher assignment to ensure an equitable distribution of experienced and high quality teachers in high needs schools.

  4. Identify and promote best practice interventions to increase student achievement for specific student sub-populations and for key transition years.

  5. Expand volunteer programs to increase recruitment, easily match individuals to volunteer opportunities and track volunteer activities to student outcomes.

  6. Promote and advocate the Piercing the Cultural Bubble “Para Una Buena Vida” Campaign message in schools and communities.

 

  • Middle school attendance rates

  • Middle school student mobility rates

  • Middle school student disciplinary rates

  • Percent of middle school students enrolled in extra-curricular activities

  • Percent of 8th graders meeting criteria on state assessments (TAKS)

  • Percent of 8th graders achieving commended on any state assessment (TAKS)

  • Percent of middle school students who failed both 4th & 5th grade reading TAKS and then passed any TAKS

  • Percent of middle school students who failed either TAKS or class who are participating in a school intervention

  • Qualified teachers (certified and teaching in field) at middle schools

  • Experienced teachers (≥ 5 years) at middle schools

  • Middle school teacher mobility rates (2004-2007)

 

*Objectives and Success Indicators are under development by Blueprint partners. They represent objective measures to evaluate and track our progress over time.

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