AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The academic proficiency of Texas students slipped significantly between 2019 and 2021, according to new test data released Monday by the Texas Education Agency.
The results of the 2021 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test show that in nearly all subjects, the number of students that failed to meet grade level proficiency increased from 2019 to 2021.
The statewide assessment was not completed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mathematics saw the largest declines, with only 35% of students at or above grade-level proficiency in 2021, compared to 50% in 2019.
Reading assessments saw a smaller decline, with 43% of students at or above grade-level proficiency in 2021, compared to 47% in 2019.
TEA officials also extrapolated the data to look at what impact virtual learning had on students' test results. According to TEA data, districts in which 25 percent or less of students were learning virtually for most of the year saw a 9% drop in satisfactory performance in mathematics from 2019 to 2021, while districts in which 75 percent or more of students were learning virtually saw a drop of 32%.
TEA Commissioner Mike Morath called the data "disheartening," but said teachers and school leaders across the state are working to recover. "Armed with the best information, working closely together, and with significant new supports from the Texas Legislature, we will provide stronger academic growth for students than ever before," said Morath.