Grade 7 Reading Instruments

Yes, the Texas Education Code (TEC) §28.006(c-1) requires each local education agency to administer Grade 7 Reading Instruments adopted by the commissioner.

Texas Education Code (TEC) §28.006(c-1) requires each local education agency to administer at the beginning of the seventh grade a reading diagnostic instrument adopted by the commissioner to each student whose performance on the grade 6 STAAR reading assessment did not meet the passing standard. 
The admission, review, and dismissal committee or the Section 504 committee for each student who was administered an alternate form of the state assessment in reading may determine if the diagnostic assessment is appropriate for use with that student.

The passing standard for STAAR assessments is Approaches Grade Level. A student who scores at or above this level has passed the STAAR test, but a student who scores within Did Not Meet Grade Level has not passed. More information about the passing standards, including a separate questions and answers document, is available on the STAAR Performance Standards webpage at http://tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/staar/performance-standards/.

The passing standard for STAAR assessments is Approaches Grade Level. A student who scores at or above this level has passed the STAAR test, but a student who scores within Did Not Meet Grade Level has not passed. More information about the passing standards, including a separate questions and answers document, is available on the STAAR Performance Standards web page.

Per Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §101.6001, local education agencies must administer during the first six weeks of the school year.

No, (TEC) §28.006(c-1) requires each local education agency to administer at the beginning of the seventh grade a reading instrument adopted by the commissioner.

No, waivers to use a reading instrument not included on the 2023-2027 Commissioner's List of Approved Grade 7 Reading Instruments are not available.

A local education agency must provide additional reading instruction and intervention as appropriate to improve the student's reading skills in the areas of need identified by the diagnostic reading assessment.

Yes, TEC §28.006 (d)(2) requires that local education agencies provide parents with a report in writing with the results of the reading instrument. This report must be shared with the parents no later than 60 calendar days after the date on which the reading instrument was administered to the student.

No, districts are not required to report the results of the grade 7 reading instruments to TEA. Local education agencies are required to comply with all the reading instruments requirements established in TEC §28.006 and compliance with this chapter could be subject to review during an audit.

Yes, the Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment (TMSFA) option is available to local education agencies free of charge.

The TMSFA grade 7 materials and online training about its administration can be found in Texas Gateway. TMSFA Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment (TMSFA) | Texas Gateway.

No, the TMSFA is a reading instrument designed to assess student’s proficiency in reading fluency, word analysis and text comprehension.

For more information about dyslexia screening processes please visit the TEA Special Populations, Dyslexia and Related Disorders webpage.

Yes, if a local education agency chooses to use Map Suite to assess grade 7 students whose performance on the Grade 6 STAAR Reading assessment did not demonstrate reading proficiency, the local education agency must administer both Map Growth and MAP Reading Fluency.  

Using MAP Growth only or MAP Reading Fluency only does not meet the requirements of the Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.006(c-1). 

For more information about MAP Suite, please see the NWEA web page for MAP Suite.

Yes, if a local education agency chooses to use the i-Ready Assessment for Reading to address the Texas Grade 7 screening requirements it must administer two assessments from the i-Ready Assessment Suite: (1) The i-Ready Diagnostic, and (2) the i-Ready Literacy Task for Passage Reading Fluency to meet the requirements of the Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.006(c-1). 

The i-Ready Diagnostic is a digital adaptive group-administered assessment that addresses the Texas requirements for phonics/word analysis, text comprehension—reading, and vocabulary. 

The i-Ready Literacy Task for Passage Reading Fluency is a one-on-one administered assessment and addresses the Texas requirement for fluency.  
Both assessments are included as part of the same license; any local education agency who has access to one assessment automatically has access to the other at no additional charge. 

Detailed guidance on using the i-Ready Assessment Suite to address the Texas Grade 7 screening requirements is available at http://www.i-ReadyCentral.com/TX-Literacy. For any additional questions, please feel free to contact your i-Ready educational consultant or partner success manager.