Press Release
Texas Education Agency
5/24/07

Since the average life of previous statewide tests (TABS, TEAMS, TAAS, and now TAKS) has been five years, it is not too early to plan for the next test.

The new instrument will be the Texas Assessment of Cognitive Operations (TACO).

It will have a remedial version (Soft TACO), a regular version (Hard TACO), and an advanced version with many more pages (the Gordita.)

It will be graded on a normal curve (the TACO Bell).

Districts receiving the lowest scores will be put on probation with a Basic Educational Appraisal-Not Satisfactory (BEANS).

A second low rating earns the dreaded additional designation: Remediation Factor for Individualized Education Deficits (REFRIED BEANS).

This rating will probably cause a lot of hot air at campus faculty meetings.