Texas uses a state-mandated curriculum, for which schools base their teaching around. Called the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), the curriculum is accessible by all student groups, including those in general education, special education or English as Second Language students. The TAKS tests are used to show how well students are learning the TEKS. Schools and their districts use the TAKS scores from each grade to evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching of TEKS test material.
In addition to the TAKS test, Texas mandates the use of End of Course (EOC) assessments for secondary-level courses. This test is taken at the end of the following high school classes: Algebra I and II, geometry, biology, chemistry, physics, English I, II and III, U.S. History, World History and World Geography. The purpose of these tests is to measure the students' comprehensive academic performance in any of these classes. The score achieved on each of these assessments count for 15 percent of the student's final grade.
The TAKS modified test is an alternate assessment designed specifically for students receiving special-education services. The tests still cover TEKS material at the same grade level. The actual test, however, has fewer answer choices, uses a simpler vocabulary and has fewer items per page. The TAKS alternate test is designed for students with cognitive disabilities. Instead of using traditional paper or multiple-choice tests, teachers observe students as they complete activities that cover material from the TAKS test.