TEA OKs use of calculator apps on 8th grade STAAR exam
Date Posted: 3/21/2014
In February, Texas Commissioner of Education Michael Williams informed superintendents that every Texas school would be required to provide graphing calculators to all students taking the 8th grade STAAR mathematics exam. Yesterday, Williams announced that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will allow schools to use graphing calculator applications available on electronic tablets in order to satisfy the new requirement. The option to use calculator applications will be on a pilot basis for the 2014–15 school year. If successful, Williams will consider extending the option and possibly expanding it to include the use of other technology such as smart phones. The move is meant to provide some flexibility and less expensive options for schools as they try to meet the new requirement. Read the full press release.
CONVERSATION
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
08/01/2025
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: Aug. 1, 2025
Questions about HB 2? Be sure to check out ATPE’s new House Bill 2 resource page. Plus: What the STAAR rescoring issue tells us about the need to get a testing bill right.
08/01/2025
STAAR rescoring issue highlights need to slow down, get testing bill right
A Dallas Morning News article highlights the pitfalls of AI test scoring—and the need for school districts to have a means of seeking transparency and accountability from TEA.
07/29/2025
Alert: Opportunity to serve on T-TESS advisory committee
Interested educators may apply to TEA by Aug. 4 to serve on a stakeholder committee that will recommend updates to the state’s teacher evaluation system.