The Varnett Public School is conducting campus-based exams this week for students in grades 3-8.
The exams are designed to help the district, campuses and teachers track student progress toward mastering state standards for what students should know and be able to do. These standards are known as TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills).
This week's exams test only the TEKS that have been taught so far. The data from these exams is analyzed by teachers and campus administrators to determine where students are struggling, in order to provide remediation or re-teaching.
The State Board of Education has the legislative authority to adopt the TEKS for each subject of the required curriculum. The board periodically reviews and revises the TEKS for each subject area.