Contact: Jennifer Rees , (512) 499-4409

Date: March 11, 2005

UT System News Release

UT System Website Prepares 11th Graders for TAKS

To graduate from high school in Texas, students must pass the four-part TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) test. This year's 11th graders – who still have three more rounds of TAKS to go – can find free, online help for taking the test on the University of Texas System's website.

Before April 20-22, when high-school juniors will be tested in math, science and social studies, students and their teachers can turn to the UT System's TRACK (TAKS Readiness and Core Knowledge) program. This year's juniors have already been tested in the English language arts portion of the TAKS test. TRACK offers diagnostic tests and hundreds of learning tutorials that give students immediate feedback and point to specific learning materials where students need the most support.

Students using TRACK may complete a test in one sitting or save results and return later to complete it. Tutorials are indexed by TAKS objectives and by student learning expectations for easy reference by both teachers and students.

All of TRACK's learning materials have been reviewed for accuracy and relevance by subject-matter experts from Texas high schools and universities. Established in February 2004, TRACK has already attracted more than 65,000 student users in the past year.

For a limited time, teachers may view an enhanced feature, TRACKPlus, which offers free, online professional tutoring for students. These tutors have been trained to address questions and issues about the 11th grade TAKS objectives, and tutoring is available live or by email. The math tutors are bilingual.

TRACK was designed and delivered by the UT TeleCampus and the Office of Academic Affairs. Generous grant funding was provided by the Houston Endowment and The Meadows Foundation.

The UT TeleCampus (UTTC) works with all 15 UT System institutions to build and deliver high quality, collaborative online courses and degree programs. UTTC facilitates the delivery of for-credit graduate and undergraduate courses and degrees, professional development, and K-12 support programs. For information access the UTTC website or email telecampus@utsystem.edu.

The UT System has 15 campuses, including nine academic and six health institutions, and an annual operating budget of $8.5 billion (FY 2005). Student enrollment exceeded 182,000 in the 2004 academic year. The UT System confers one-third of the state's undergraduate degrees and educates three-fourths of the state's health care professionals annually. With more than 76,000 employees, the UT System is one of the largest employers in Texas.

TRACK

UT System News Release: TAKS Help Is on the Way (5/20/03)

UT TeleCampus

UT System