Student Success Initiative

What is the Student Success Initiative?

Enacted by the 76th Texas Legislature in 1999 and modified by the 81st Texas Legislature, the Student Success Initiative (SSI) grade advancement requirements apply to enrolled 5th grade and 8th grade students who take the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) Reading test.

The goal of SSI is to ensure that all students receive the instruction and support they need to be academically successful in Reading However, this goal requires a partnership between schools, parents, and community members all working together to meet individual student needs.

Notification of Retention

Districts must notify parents and guardians within five working days of receipt of the results that their child did not meet the passing standard on the STAAR assessment and that not meeting the passing standard on the assessment after three opportunities will result in automatic grade-level retention.

Third Administration

The district must notify the campus principal within five working days of receipt of the assessment results. Upon receiving the results, the principal must notify parents that their child did not meet the passing standard on the third assessment opportunity.

The notice to parents must state that because the student has not met the passing standard on the assessment, the student is automatically retained in the current grade and the parent must appeal in order for the Grade Placement Committee (GPC) to review the retention.

The parent or guardian may appeal the retention by submitting a request to the GPC within five working days of receipt of the retention notification.

SSI Parent Resources