Student Success Initiative (SSI) Resources
SSI Resources Overview
TEA has a number of resources available to assist educators with Student Success Initiative (SSI) requirements. These include resources focused on critical points of student assessment and grade advancement. Some of the most popular of these resources are detailed below. Additional resources are available from TEA's Assessment Division SSI page.
TAKS Information Booklets
TAKS information booklets are a user-friendly resource to help Texas educators, students, parents, and other stakeholders understand more about the TAKS tests. These booklets are not intended to replace the teaching of the TEKS curriculum, provide the basis for test preparation, or serve as the single information source about every aspect of the TAKS program. However, the booklets do provide helpful explanations and offer sample items, reading and writing selections, and prompts in order to give a good sense of the assessment. Click here for more information and to locate TAKS Information Booklets.
TAKS Study Guides
TEA has also developed TAKS Study Guides to help students strengthen the TEKS-based skills that are taught in class and tested on TAKS. The Guides are designed for students to use on their own or for students and families to work through together. Concepts are presented in a variety of ways that will help students review the information and skills they need to be successful on the TAKS. Click here for more information and to locate TAKS Study Guides.
Personal Graduation Plan
State law now requires a Personal Graduation Plan for each student in junior high, middle school, or high school who does not perform satisfactorily on a state standardized assessment, or who is not likely to receive a high school diploma before the fifth school year following the student’s enrollment in grade 9. TEA has collaborated with Region 13 Education Service Center and the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals to produce a Personal Graduation Plan Resource Guide and Model. While this model is not mandated by the Agency, it is being made available to districts as a guide. Districts are encouraged to customize personal graduation plans in such a way to create rich planning/monitoring and intervention strategies. Click here for more information on the Personal Graduation Plan Guide.
Grade Placement Committee Manual
Student Success Initiative (SSI) grade advancement requirements currently apply to the Grade 3 reading test and the Grade 5 reading and mathematics, with Grade 8 reading and mathematics tests beginning in the 2007–2008 school year. Students may advance to the next grade level only by passing these tests or by unanimous decision of a grade placement committee. The Grade Placement Manual is designed to support school personnel in the implementation of these grade advancement requirements. The manual has three purposes: to provide clear administrative guidance; to guide grade placement committees in their decision-making responsibility; and to assist district and campus personnel with accelerated instruction. Download the Grade Placement Manual.
