VAISD reports higher scores after state rescore of select exams

Van Alstyne Area Independent School District (VAISD) has released data regarding a recent request to rescore select State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR), End-of-Course (EOC), and Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) exams. The district stated that the human rescoring process resulted in higher scores for nearly half of the submitted assessments.

According to VAISD, student responses are initially scored by machine. Districts have the option to request a second, human-read scoring for specific students. For this cycle, the district resubmitted the Speaking and Writing portions of TELPAS and the extended constructed responses (ECRs) on the Reading and Language Arts (RLA) STAAR exams for students they believed warranted a higher score.

The district noted that it is required to pay $50 for each exam that returns with no change in score, which limits the number of submissions to the allotted budget. Of the 17 TELPAS exams submitted, eight, or 47 percent, received a higher score. Among the 84 STAAR/EOC exams submitted, 46, or 55 percent, came back with increased scores.

VAISD confirmed that all score changes are already reflected in student results and advised that no further changes should be expected. The district emphasized that student growth is a priority and stated it will continue to submit as many exams as possible for human evaluation, regardless of whether a student is close to moving up a performance level.

More information on the rescoring process will be presented at the next Regular Board Meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the VAISD Board Room.