Texas Reading Test Scores Stagnant for a Decade: Is Test Design to Blame?

Despite billions of dollars invested in Texas K-12 education from 2012 to 2021, annual reading test scores remained flat. A deep dive into test design reveals this stagnation wasn't due to lack of student improvement, but rather, the test itself. The administering agency annually adjusted difficulty, resulting in consistent passing rates over a decade, masking actual student progress. This norm-referenced testing focuses on relative ranking, not absolute standards, hindering accurate assessment of learning and exacerbating inequities in resource allocation. The researcher calls for improved test design to remove barriers to educational equity.