No revision to math TEKS at this time

After six board discussions over a 17-month period to determine whether adjustments should be made to the mathematics curriculum standards implemented in 2012, the State Board of Education on April 21 voted 5-9 with one abstention to make no changes at this time. 

The proposal considered would have removed references to mathematical process standards from the knowledge and skills statements in the mathematics standards for all grade levels. 

The board gathered extensive public input about whether changes were needed to the standards and whether the suggested changes would impact state assessments. There were conflicting comments from parents and educators about whether changes were needed. It was determined, however, that removing references to the process standards in the knowledge and skills statements would not prompt changes on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®). 

STAAR results released April 25 for grades five and eight confirmed that student achievement in math is rising. The overall passing rate on the fifth-grade STAAR rose from 76 percent in 2016 to 81 percent in 2017.  The passing rate rose from 69 percent in 2016 to 74 percent in 2017 at eighth grade.