99% of Teachers in Texas Pass Competency Test

More than 99% of the teachers in Texas passed the mandatory reading and writing competency tests that were given for the first time this year, leaving 6,319 who failed to qualify, the state said Friday.

Those who failed to qualify will not be allowed to teach next year unless their school districts get a special one-year extension, which is granted only if the districts prove they are unable to find qualified replacements.

Texas Education Agency Commissioner William Kirby said he was pleased that more than 99% of the state’s estimated 210,000 certified teachers qualified.

4,444 Did Not Take Test

But he said it was disappointing that 4,444 of those with certificates did not even take the tests in March, and another 676 did not try a second time in June.

“Combined with the 1,199 who failed on their second attempt, we will potentially lose 6,319 teachers when school starts in September,” Kirby said.

Education agency officials emphasized the passing rates of minority teachers in the second test. The results showed that 95.4% of black teachers passed, 98.9% of Hispanics passed and 99.9% of whites passed.

‘Did Not Discriminate’

“I think that indicates that the test absolutely did not discriminate against any ethnic group as is being claimed in a federal lawsuit,” Kirby said.

The pending court challenge claiming that the examination is discriminatory was filed by the Texas State Teachers Assn.

The test consisted of 83 multiple choice questions concerning reading and writing in addition to a 150-word composition. It was mandated by the Major School Reform Act of 1984.