DMAC and HB4545

Can DMAC help my school meet the
requirements of HB4545?

Absolutely! DMAC is an ideal data system to analyze scores, create local assessments and document student progress. Moreover, we offer web-based software that is designed exclusively for Texas educators–which means we can tailor the software specifically for new statutes such as this. 

Currently, schools can generate reports in State Assessment to identify a list of students who are in need of accelerated instruction based on their STAAR scores. The Data Export application will also help identify students who were absent or did not take a test. Once your groups are identified, Student Portfolio, Learning Plans, FormWorks and TEKScore State Assessment can be used to document and assess growth over time. 

We’ve highlighted a few tips in this article to get started; however, you can always give the DMAC Help Desk a call at 1.866.988.6777 or email us at support@dmac-solutions.net with any questions. 

As more information is released by TEA, we will continue to modify our applications to better support the documentation process. We welcome any and all feedback or suggestions that you may have. You can submit those here > DMAC Feedback.

What is HB4545?

House Bill 4545 is a Texas statute that went into effect immediately, starting in June 2021. It requires schools to participate in accelerated instruction practices–for students who did not pass their STAAR tests in grades 3-8 or EOC assessments. 

Schools are required to use STAAR results unless a student did not participate in the assessment. If so, students are required to receive accelerated instruction until they can score high enough on a local assessment aligned to the appropriate standards at their grade level.

NOTE: Students who have performed satisfactorily on the STAAR achieved Approaches Grade Level, Meets Grade Level, or Masters Grade Level. Students who did not perform satisfactorily on STAAR achieved Did Not Meet Approaches or did not test.

What does HB4545 include?

This statute applies to all school years going forward.

Students who need accelerated instruction should receive ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION through one of the following methods:

  1. Via a classroom teacher who is a certified master, exemplary, or recognized teacher; or,
  2. Via supplemental instruction (i.e., tutoring) before or after school, or embedded in the school day

This must be done for a total of no less than 30 hours (or for 30 hours each for math -and- reading) over the summer or subsequent school year.

What changed?

HB4545 eliminates grade retention and retesting requirements in grades 5 and 8; however, schools are granted the flexibility to retain students (if deemed appropriate locally). Moreover, though the ACLs replace the Grade Placement Committees, it does not have an impact on the Personal Graduation Plan.

Accelerated Learning Committees

Schools are required to establish Accelerated Learning Committees (ALCs) for students who did not pass a STAAR test in grade 3, 5, or 8 math or reading. Starting summer 2022, schools must establish ALCs and develop individual student plans during the summer and prior to the start of the school year, based on the latest STAAR results.

ALCs must be comprised of:

  • The principal or the principal’s designee
  • The student’s parent or guardian, and
  • The teacher of the subject of an assessment on which the student failed to pass.

DMAC and HB4545

Step 1: Identify Students based on STAAR Scores

From Student Portfolio, use the Filter to identify students who Did Not Meet Approaches. 

Follow these steps to create custom groups for each grade and subject:

  • Student Portfolio | Search – Select Campus and Grade on the Portfolio tab > click Search.
  • Filter by Test – Use the filter and choose NO in the MetStrd column for one subject.
  • Create Groups – Select all students (top right) returned with the filter and click the green Create Group link. Name the group and click save. This action starts your group in the Utilities application. After saving, close the open browser tab to return to Student Portfolio. 

The POWER of Custom Groups

Utilize your custom groups to track students needing accelerated instruction throughout the year.

  • Filter for groups in Student Portfolio or Learning Plans using the Show Groups toggle. Batch print or create plans and notes with just a few clicks for students.

  • Use the Groups tab to generate Instructional Reports in both State Assessment and TEKScore just for the students identified in your groups.

Step 2: Identify students who were absent or did not take the STAAR tests

Students are required to receive Accelerated Instruction if they 1) did not test or 2) were absent for the STAAR test. Students must continue receiving Accelerated Instruction until they can take a similar local assessment aligned to the appropriate standards and pass it.

  • From Data Export, select the STAAR tab and identify tests by year and by subject.
  • Check the Score Code option under Field Options to generate a list of students who had a score code of A or O.
  • Click the Download icon (top right) once you’ve made your selections to open your list in a spreadsheet.

NOTE: Data Export is FREE to all schools who have class rosters and state, local or national data uploaded in DMAC. You can aggregate state, local and national data sources and export up to three years of data at one time. 

Step 3: Develop forms for Accelerated Instruction Plans

Utilize the FormWorks application to create customized forms, accelerated instruction plans or notification letters to parents. Don’t forget to link templates to Student Portfolio and/or Learning Plans so forms are accessible for individual students.

To save time, DMAC has included a few common templates provided by TEA that can be tailored to your school’s individual needs.

  • Open FormWorks > Templates and click the ADD NEW icon on the top right. 
  • Click on Select a common template. Locate available templates on the left or go back and create custom forms for your school.
  • Rename your template and select Portfolio under the Type drop-down so it is available to be attached to individual student records in Student Portfolio. Click Save.
  • IMPORTANT: You must Publish templates (forms) in FormWorks to see them within the Forms section of Student Portfolio or Learning Plans. Click here for more information about creating Forms.

 Add Forms in Student Portfolio

  • Open Student Portfolio and click on the magnifying glass icon to the far right of an individual student’s name to open their file.
  • Click on the Forms link (left) and Add new to attach a new form to a student’s record. For forms to appear on the drop down menu, templates must first be created in FormWorks and attached to an application in DMAC.

Step 4: Use Learning Plans to create ALPs

With the Learning Plans application in DMAC, create individualized Accelerated Learning Plans (ALPs) for students.

Document your Accelerated Learning Committee (ALC) members with their recommendations and set up different periods of intervention that monitor progress over time. 

Plans can have multiple focus areas (ex: Reading and Math); and, you can even track hours using the Time Log feature. Easily export this data to show compliance with HB4545.

Select the Plans tab from the Student Portfolio Search Screen and select ALP from the Plan Type drop-down (left).

Use the plan icons to the right of student’s names to start or modify existing plans. The (+) icon allows you to start new plans. If you see a clipboard icon, a plan has already been started. The edit icon indicates that a plan was started for a student but it doesn’t have any data.

  • – Start a new Plan
  • – Access either the MTSS or ALP plan pages for an individual student
  • – Click the edit icon to open the plan page

Click here for more information/videos about Learning Plans and how to create ALPs.

Step 5:  Utilize other applications in DMAC to generate local assessments and track progress over time.

  • TAG:  Create local assessments in TAG/TEKScore to track student progress on SEs.  Utilize the advanced filters to search for items tied to a specific SE, passage, or genre.  Click on the SE Summary to display a breakdown of test items. Export tests from TAG to enable online tests in TEKScore and activate testing supports such as guidelines, highlighters, calculators, and more.  Enjoy real-time monitoring and reporting as students sign in and complete their tests. 
  • TEKScore: Deliver targeted Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)-aligned instruction for the applicable grade level and subject areas. Review and analyze data through reports to track student progress.
  • Student Portfolio: Easily document and track student progress with all individual data in one convenient location.  This is a powerful tool to create and manage documentation that is accessible to all key stakeholders involved with a student’s success. And, the records travel with the student from grade to grade and stay with them as they move campuses.