Texas elementary and middle school students made gains in reading this year, prompting education leaders to point the scores as a sign that the state’s focus on literacy is paying off.

The percentage of students hitting grade-level expectations on STAAR reading tests improved in most grades and topped pre-pandemic levels.

However, challenges remain. Just under half of Texas third graders are reading at grade level, according to the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness results.

“These results are encouraging and reflect the impact of the strategic supports we’ve implemented in recent years,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said in a statement.

The news was less optimistic in math, a subject students struggled to grasp during the COVID-19 campus closures.

This year’s STAAR performance varied. Third and eighth graders made gains, while those in fifth and seventh grades saw dips.

Overall, state performance in math still fell below where students were in spring 2019, the last test before the pandemic hit.

“Clearly more work is needed,” Morath said of the math scores.

For years, Texas has emphasized that students must learn the “science of reading.” Many teachers are required to go through specialized “reading academies” to ensure they understand the specific techniques that must be used to build children’s literacy skills.

The Legislature recently passed a landmark $8.5 billion funding increase for public schools, which includes a mandate to bolster training programs for math teachers.

The funding package – which comes after years of stagnant state support – also includes money to improve educator training along with additional dollars for other programs aimed at improving student achievement.

Public schools across Texas are still struggling with the fallout of the pandemic, more than five years later.

When Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde reviewed academic outcomes with trustees last week, she urged them to remember how old today’s students were when the pandemic struck in 2020.

“That’s not an excuse, and we’re going to continue to work on it,” she said. “But I just want everyone to understand that we also can’t ignore some of the factors that actually affected our kids.”

Since 2020, the percentage of uncertified teachers working in Texas public schools has exploded. Chronic student absenteeism rates jumped up, too, troubling educators who stress that children can’t learn if they’re not in the classroom.

Parents can log into TexasAssessment.gov and find their child’s STAAR results. Scores for high school students were released last week.

Students don’t need to meet grade level to pass the exams. STAAR scores are broken down into four performance categories on how well they compared to grade-level expectations: masters, meets, approaches and did not meet.

Approaches or higher is considered passing. However, if the student scores only at the approaches level, it means they likely need academic intervention, such as tutoring, in order to succeed in the next grade.

This is a developing story that will be updated throughout the day.

The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.

The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, Judy and Jim Gibbs, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Ron and Phyllis Steinhart, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks, and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.

On Saturday, before the ‘No Kings’ protest in Austin, Texas, DPS says a credible threat was made against Texas lawmakers. The capitol building was evacuated before the protests began as one person was arrested in La Grange en route to Austin, and the investigation is ongoing. 

This happened while lawmakers were learning of the targeted attack that killed Democrat Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband.

Democrat Minnesota state senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot in a separate targeted attack that the Minnesota governor called politically motivated.

It is clear that lawmakers are concerned about the recent uptick in violence, and they wrote a letter to the governor to ensure safety is a top priority before any more threats are made or worse carried out.

Democratic Caucus Letter to Gov. Abbott

Texas House representative Venton Jones is one of many who signed the democratic caucus letter to Governor Greg Abbott asking to increase safety measures for state lawmakers.

“Absolutely, very shocked and very concerned,” said Jones. “Well, I think it’s very important to bring to the governor’s attention that we as democratic elected officials are very concerned for our safety.” 

The letter says how these concerns stem from the rhetoric used by elected officials and online, and how those words can become physical actions. 

“Politically motivated extremists have proven they are willing to murder to achieve political aims, and in light of the threat on those attending the protest, we have every reason to believe Texas officials could be targeted next.”

What they’re saying:

“We hear time after time, you know, things that may come at us online, through social media, through, you know, people. Whatever people have to say about the decisions that we have to make as lawmakers. But when you see that manifested, and someone takes that conversation off the keyboard and literally coordinates a plan and carries it out, it should be something that alarms everyone right now,” said Jones.

The threats and attacks have largely been against democratic lawmakers and elected officials, although it is worth noting there have been two attempts on President Trump’s life.

Jones acknowledges how it is easy for people to point blame at one side of the aisle or the other when it comes to harmful rhetoric, but he believes safety should be a top priority, regardless of political affiliation.

“We should only be concerned with safety right now and making sure we’re doing everything that we can. And like I said, I don’t care if that is a Democrat or a Republican, we have to protect people,” said Jones. 

“I think that we just have to make sure that we take this very seriously and do everything possible to not have this violence happen in our state and I hope that the governor takes this letter very seriously and do the work necessary to keep our state safe, and the individuals that who have been called to serve it.”

Dig deeper:

The letter ends by asking the governor to answer three questions.

1. What steps will DPS take to protect state legislators and other elected officials?
2. What resources are there to monitor online threats targeting state lawmakers?
3. And what is the plan for DPS to protect lawmakers and elected officials against any potential copycat inspired by the recent assassination?

The letter was signed and issued yesterday but so far, Governor Abbott has not publicly addressed it or the concerns it details.