An A-F grade is what Texas schools, including Groom ISD will, receive from the Texas Education Agency, starting this year for practice – and next for actual accountability comparisons, according to Superintendent Jay Lamb. As a result, Groom is instituting a new program, “STAAR Wednesdays,” to help the district take, specific action toward getting the highest grades possible.

Lamb said he has used this schedule once before in another school system to help students prepare for the state’s standardized testing, which now has become know as STAAR (the State of Texas Academic Assessment of Readiness).

“The idea for STAAR Wednesdays came from Coach Lamb, who used it successfully when he was in McLean,” counselor Kaitlyn Moritz said. “Basically, every other Wednesday will be a five-period day in which students will rotate between different subjects. Each subject will be team-taught by at least two teachers with expertise in that area.”

Under the new accountability system, each school will receive a rating based on four domains.  Three of those domains deal directly with STAAR testing. In recent months, the GISD school board did pass a motion to oppose this rating system as many other school districts have done.  The initial rating system gave an A-F rating to each domain, but next year schools will be one combined grade.

Groom’s current ratings are as listed below:

So, now, at least one Wednesday out of each month will be slightly different than every other school day. Grades fourth through 12th will participate in the first “Staar Wednesday,” instead of attending their normally scheduled classes.

“It (the new STAAR-preparation program) is designed to meet the rigor and standards that the state of Texas has put before all schools to meet,” Vanderpool said.

Each grade will have the opportunity to be co-taught by the staff at Groom School. There will be only five periods and lunch on these select Wednesdays. School will begin promptly at 8 a.m. and will let out at 2:50. Parents will be given notice prior to each selected “STAAR Wednesday” event.

“The reason for the shortened day is because of the increased rigor of mandated testing and is also designed to help your students gain a few extra moments of rest before March (the busiest testing month) is upon us,” Vanderpool said.

Students are nervous for what the new schedule will bring, but some say they are looking forward to what the outcome will be.

“It’s definitely different than what we’re used to,” senior Caroline Britten said. “I hope that it benefits the students the way the administration hopes it will.”

Groom staff wants to help students prepare for tests and their future, so students who have finished their required testing will have targeted activities, as well.

“Students who have already taken their STAAR tests will be with me that day, working on things related to college prep, scholarship applications, career development, and “adulting,”  Moritz said. “For this last topic, we’ll cover things you’ll need to know as an adult but may not learn in school – everything from opening a checking account to changing a flat.”

The administration has offered words of encouragement to the teachers as well as the students as it seeks to help students continue to grow and improve in academic pursuits.

“We have one of the best staffs in the state of Texas, and because of this, I would encourage each one of you to set and achieve goals for every student, target the ones that need help,” Vanderpool said to teachers in a January email. “And remember to control what you can control, which is what occurs in your classroom.”

If you have any questions about this proposed schedule or STAAR testing in general, please do not hesitate to contact the school at (806) 248-7474.

“Without your support, the success of your students would not be possible,” Vanderpool said to parents in a letter that went home on Friday, Jan. 13.