What Is Texas Primary Education?
Primary education in Texas--more commonly referred to as elementary education-involves the first five to seven years of a student's required schooling. Many Texas children undergo this stage of education in a neighborhood elementary school in one of the state's many public school districts. Other students complete primary education in a private school or even through homeschooling.
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Function
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Primary education in Texas strives to provide students with basic literacy and mathematical skills, as well as provide a basic introduction to other core subjects, such as science, social studies, the arts and physical education. Primary education provides a foundation of knowledge intended to help students succeed in secondary education (middle school and high school).
Time Frame
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Primary or elementary education in Texas generally begins in kindergarten and extends through fifth grade, although some elementary schools may serve sixth grade, as well. After primary education, Texas students move on to middle school (also known as junior high school), which covers grades six to eight (seven to eight in some school systems), followed by four years of high school (grades 9 to 12).
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Types
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Types of primary schools in Texas include public elementary schools, which serve the majority of the state's elementary school children; private schools; and homeschools. Texas has more than 1,000 public school districts. They operate independently of other governmental entities, such as counties and cities, and are thus known as independent school districts. These districts range in size from small rural districts that house all students in a single campus to large urban districts, such as Houston and Dallas, each serving more than 100,000 students. Texas also has a large number of private schools, over which the state's education agency has no authority. These include sectarian and nonsectarian private schools. Finally, some families in Texas educate their children at home. A 1980s court case ruled that homeschooling in Texas was a form of private education and not subject to state control.
Features
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The Texas Education Agency (TEA) and State Board of Education oversee primary and secondary public schooling in Texas. These authorities regard curriculum and instruction as important elements of a school system. To ensure that all students gain the academic skills needed for success in life, the state publishes and updates its curriculum standards, known collectively as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The state publishes TEKS for each primary grade level in Texas public schools (grades kindergarten through five). These standards outline what students should learn in each grade level in reading and language arts, math, science, social studies and other subjects. These standards help structure the content of textbooks and instructional materials used in the state's public elementary schools.
Significance
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Students in Texas public elementary schools participate in the state's achievement testing system, beginning in the third grade. The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests students' knowledge of reading and mathematics in grades 3 to 11. In addition to annual assessments in reading and math, students in primary grades must take the TAKS writing test in grade four and the TAKS science and social studies tests in grade five. Students enrolled in private schools or who are homeschooled are not subject to the TAKS tests.
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