Psychometric Inadequacies of the TAAS

Abstract

The Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) at the 10th-grade exit-level test consists of three domain-referenced achievement tests in reading, writing, and mathematics, all of which must be passed at the same criterion score of 70 on the Texas Learning Index scale in order for a student to receive a high school diploma. This article examines the adequacy of the TAAS exit-level test from certain psychometric points of view. Although the legal sufficiency of the test has been established in federal court, there is much to learn from the deficiencies of the test. Several simulations based on a selected number of items as a result of factor analysis are discussed to show ways in which the TAAS exit-level test and similar instruments can be substantially improved.