Explanation of 2015–16 TAPR Masking Rules

The 2015–16 Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR) and Downloads employ masking of performance data in order to comply with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Generally, the term "masking" refers to the use of special symbols to conceal the performance results.

The tables below show each of the masking situations that are possible on the reports. Different rules apply for the STAAR indicators compared to other performance indicators.

Symbols Used for Masking STAAR

Examples
Numerator
Denominator
(all tests)
Percent
What is Shown on Report
What is Stored on
Data Download
Meaning
a
4
4
100%
*
-1

Numerator is less than 5 and denominator is > 0.
3
30
10%
*
-1
0
45
0%
*
-1
b
0
0
0%
–
•

Denominator is 0.


Symbols Used for Masking Attendance

Examples
Numerator
Denominator
Percent
What is Shown on Report
What is Stored on
Data Download
Meaning
a

100

400

25.0%

*

-1

Denominator (days membership) is less than 900 (excluding 0).

0

200

0.0%

*

-1

800

800

100.0%

*

-1
b

0

0

–

–

•

Denominator is 0.


Symbols Used for Masking Graduates Enrolled in TX Institution of Higher Education (IHE) **

Numerator
Denominator
Percent
What is Shown on Report
What is Stored on
Data Download
Meaning

1

4

25.0%

*

-1

Number of graduates or number of enrolled in IHE or number not enrolled in IHE < 5

** All information for Graduates Enrolled in Higher Education is provided to TEA by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). For questions regarding these data, please contact the THECB at (512) 427-6153.


Symbols Used for Masking Postsecondary Performance Indicators (Annual Dropout, Longitudinal Graduation, RHSP/DAP Graduates, FHSP Graduates, AP/IB Results, SAT/ACT, Advanced Courses, College-Ready Graduates, College and Career Ready Graduates, Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) Graduates, Advanced/Dual Credit Course Completion Graduates, Postsecondary Credit Graduates, AP/IB Course Completion Graduates and CTE Coherent Sequence Graduates)

Examples
Numerator
Denominator
Percent
What is Shown on Report
What is Stored on
Data Download
Meaning
a
1
4
25.0%
*

-1

Denominator is less than five (excluding 0).
0
2
0.0%
*

-1
3
3
100.0%
*

-1
b
0
0
–
–

•

Denominator is 0.
c
> 0
0
–
?

-2

Denominator is 0 and
numerator is > 0.
d

–

–

–

n/a

•

Data reporting is not applicable.
e
8
6
133.0%

?

-2

Denominator is five or more; and,

Percentages are statistically improbable, or were reported outside a reasonable range.
35
30
117.0%

?

-2

For there to be no masking of postsecondary performance data, both of the following conditions must be met:

  • Denominator is five or more; and,
  • Percentages are statistically probable, or are reported within a reasonable range.

Symbols Used for Masking Profile Values

If values reported on school and district staff, and student demographics are outside a reasonable range, a question mark (?) is printed on the report and a -2 is stored on the download file.


Advanced TAPR Download: Additional Masking Symbols for Numerator and Denominator

Data available for download:

Masking Symbol in Download
What is Masked
-1
  • Small numbers: Numerator is less than 5 and denominator is > 0.
-2
  • Denominator is 0 and numerator is > 0; or
    Denominator is => 5 and rate is > 100%.
    Percentages are statistically improbable.
-3
  • Next smallest group: When only one racial/ethnic group is masked, then the second smallest racial/ethnic group's numerator and denominator are masked regardless of size. The rate remains unmasked.
•
  • Data are not available.

2015–16 TAPR | Performance Reporting