Ongoing reporting issues with a testing vendor is prompting the state's top education official to waive any consequences for fifth- and eighth-grade students relating to technical problems with the standardized tests they took.
In a statement issued Friday, Education Commissioner Mike Morath said those students who didn't perform satisfactorily on the March and May 2016 will not have to retake the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. He also said he is canceling the June STAAR testing date for fifth- and eighth-graders.
Students must pass the STAAR to advance to middle school and high school.
Morath said local districts will have to make their own judgments on student promotion or retention.
New Jersey-based Educational Testing Services is administering the exam after winning a $280 million contract.
