What is the STAAR ?
By Tom Ilgenfritz

STAAR is the name of the testing
program for students in Texas
public schools.
The letters stand for:
S
State of
T
Texas
A
Assessment of
A
Academic
R
Readiness
1
The Law
 Each
public school in Texas
must teach the same
curriculum, the TEKS
T
Texas
E
Essential
K Knowledge and
S
Skills
2
 The
STAAR test is a ‘Criterion
Referenced’ test. Questions are
based on this curriculum, the
TEKS — in other words, the test is
based on what students are being
taught in school. Therefore, the
STAAR tests are a way to
measure what students are
learning.
3

The other type of commonly used test
is a ‘Norm Referenced’ test.
Questions are based on general
knowledge of the test takers at a
particular age and scores determine
what percentile of the normal
population the student would fall based
on a curve. Students may or may not
have been exposed to the learning
being assessed. (ITBS, CAT, SAT, etc.)
4
Texas’ Instructional Program
Taught
Written
TEKS
Tested (STAAR)
5
How State Assessments are
Created
Step 1: TEA (Texas Education Agency)
collects a pool of test questions that have
been developed by in-house and
outside/independent test writers, as well
as assessment companies.
 Step 2: A panel of 35-40 volunteer
teachers from around the state review the
questions from the specific grade/content
areas then make any edits and changes to
the questions.

How State Assessments are
Created
 Step
3: A second panel of 35-40
volunteer teachers review the edited
questions and recommend questions
to be ‘field tested’ by students
 Step 4: Questions are ‘field tested’
either on a stand alone test or
imbedded as part of a state required
assessment
How State Assessments are
Created


Step 5: A third panel of 35-40 volunteer
teachers reviews the statistical data of each
individual question to determine if the question
has any unusual characteristics,
gender/race/language bias, grade level
appropriate, and appropriate level of difficulty. If
the panel unanimously agrees that the question
is appropriate, then it is put as is in a pool to be
used on a future state assessment.
Step 6: TEA creates a state assessment based
on a blueprint developed by their Assessment
Division using the items that have been placed in
that pool for students in grades 3 – 11.
How State Assessments are
Created
 The
process can take as long as
three years for a test to go from
concept to final version that actually
tests students.
 Because of the time and cost
involved, tests are only released
every other year or so for public
viewing
Who Takes The STAAR?
 All
public school students in Grades
3 through 11 take state
assessments every spring.
 High school students have other
opportunities throughout the year.
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What tests are given to
elementary students?
3rd
4th
5th
6th
Grade: Reading and Math
Grade: Reading, Math,
and Writing
Grade: Reading, Math,
and Science
Grade: Reading, Math
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What is the Purpose?
 The
purpose of this law is to
make sure your child has the
academic skills necessary to be
successful in school.
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How Many Chances Does My Child
Get to Pass the STAAR?
3rd Grade:
The STAAR Assessment is given one
time during the school year. It will be
the only time your child can take the
Reading or Math test.
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How Many Chances Does My Child
Get to Pass the STAAR?
4th Grade:
The STAAR Assessment is given one
time during the school year. It will
be the only time your child can take
the Reading, Math, or Writing test.
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How Many Chances Does My Child
Get to Pass the STAAR?
5th Grade:
The STAAR Assessment is given one
time this school year. It will be the
only time this school year your child
can take the Reading, Math, and
Science test.
Beginning 2012-2013 school year, your
child will be given 3 opportunities to
pass the Reading Test and Math Test
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STAAR 2012
 Only
one test this year due to the
first time it is administered and
passing standards need to be
established.
 Results will not be released until Fall
of 2012
 Parents will not receive the full
report that TAKS had until 20122013 assessment
STAAR Test Dates
March 27, 2012: 5th Grade Math, 4th
Grade Writing (day 1)
March 28, 2012: 5th Grade Reading,
4th Grade Writing (day 2)
April 24, 2012: 3rd,4th ,6th Grade Math
April 25, 2012: 3rd,4th,6th Grade
Reading
April 26, 2012: 5th Grade Science
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New to STAAR
 Time
Limit – 4 hours
 Different accommodations
 Possibly fewer accommodations
 4th Grade Writing will be given over 2
days
 4th Grade Writing will have two
writing passages
 4th Grade Writing passages will be
limited to 26 lines
The same promotion
requirements will apply to
students who are Limited English
Proficient (LEP) or in Special
Education
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STAAR TESTS
 STAAR
(English or Spanish)
 STAAR M (English or Spanish)
 STAAR Alternative
A Look at the Test
Any item may include application context
and extraneous information.
 Most items will be in a multiple-choice
format with four answer choices.
 Not here or a variation of this phrase may
be used as the fourth answer choice
when appropriate.
 There will be a limited number of openended ‘griddable’ items (Science and
Math)

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What’s Different About STAAR





More rigorous than TAKS; greater
emphasis on alignment to college and
career readiness
“Fewer, deeper, clearer ” focus
Linked to college and career readiness
Will emphasize “readiness” standards,
defined as those TEKS considered critical
for success in the current grade or subject
and important for preparedness in the
grade or subject that follows
Will include other TEKS that are
considered supporting standards and will
be assessed, though not emphasized
NEW ASSESSMENT DESIGN
TEKS FOR SPECIFIC
GRADE OR COURSE
FOCUS OF
ASSESSMENT
ASSESSED
ACROSS YEARS
NOT
ASSESSED
STAAR Readiness Standards
TEKS eligible for assessment split into
two categories
Readiness Standards;
defined as those TEKS
considered necessary for
success in the current
grade/course and important for
preparedness in the
grade/course that follows
STAAR Supporting Standards
TEKS eligible for assessment split into
two categories
Supporting Standards,
defined as those TEKS which
are important to teach but
which will receive less
emphasis by being assessed
across years/administrations
STAAR Blueprint
Example; 5th Grade Math
Math Test Sample Question
(5th Grade)
An employee at a video store worked a total of 90
hours in 3 weeks. She worked 5 days a week. If
she worked the same number of hours a day, how
many hours did the employee work each day?
Record your answer and fill in the bubbles on your
answer document. Be sure to use the correct
place value.
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Reading Test Sample Passage
(5th Grade)
The Bird with the Broken Wing
An Adaptation
Characters LITTLE BIRD, THE OAK, THE MAPLE, THE WILLOW, THE
SPRUCE, THE PINE, THE JUNIPER, JACK FROST, FOREST FAIRY
Scene 1
1 [It is late fall in the forest. The stage is bare except for a variety of
trees.]
2 THE OAK: See that flock of birds coming? The winter is near, and they
are flying south.
3 THE MAPLE: I hope they will not light on my branches. I like to keep my
leaves in order.
4 THE WILLOW: So many birds will break my tender twigs. I do not want
them either. Here they come!
5 [Birds fly over the trees and continue on their path. Little Bird,
struggling, lands awkwardly on the ground.]
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Reading Test Sample Passage
(5th Grade)
The Bird with the Broken Wing
6 LITTLE BIRD: I can fly no farther! My wing is broken, and I cannot hold
it up. I must rest tonight in this forest. I am sure some big strong tree will
give me a resting place. I will ask this tall Oak; his leaves are so thick. May
I rest in your strong branches tonight, great Oak Tree? I am a poor little
bird with a broken wing.
7 THE OAK: I am sorry, but my branches are all occupied by the squirrels
gathering acorns before winter comes. I have no room.
8 LITTLE BIRD: I am so tired and cold and hungry. Surely the handsome
Maple will take me in. She has no acorns, so the squirrels will not be in her
branches. Kind, lovely Maple, may I rest tonight in your beautiful
branches? I am a poor little bird with a broken wing.
9 THE MAPLE: My house is in perfect order, and I cannot think of
disturbing it. Please go away!
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Reading Test Sample Question
(5th Grade)
The Bird with the Broken Wing
Read these lines from Scene 1 of the play.
THE OAK: I am sorry, but my branches are all occupied by the squirrels
gathering acorns before winter comes.
THE MAPLE: My house is in perfect order, and I cannot think of
disturbing it.
THE WILLOW: I do not know your name or anything about you.
What do these lines represent?
A
B
C
D
The reasons why the trees dislike Little Bird
The ways the trees prepare for the coming winter
The excuses the trees give for not helping Little Bird
The different purposes that the trees serve in the forest
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Writing Test Sample Passage
(4th Grade)
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each
question.
Samantha wrote about her favorite time of the year. Read
Samantha’s paper and think about how it should be revised. Then
answer the questions that follow. ©
Cookie Season
1) Some kids look forward to summer vacation. (2) Others can’t wait
for spring and the start of baseball season. (3) My favorite time of
year comes shortly after the winter holidays. (4) One day I’ll notice
a girl sitting at a table in front of the grocery store. (5) As I walk
by, she will politely ask, “Would you like to buy some cookies?” (6) At
that point I jump for joy.
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Writing Test Sample Question
(4th Grade)
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.
Samantha wrote about her favorite time of the year. Read Samantha’s
paper and think about how it should be revised. Then answer the
questions that follow. ©
1 Samantha wants to add a sentence to the end of her first paragraph
(sentences 1–6). Which sentence could she add to clearly state the
central idea of her paper?
A
B
C
D
I jump higher than you can imagine.
She is talking to me, and I know it’s here!
Girl Scout cookie season has finally arrived!
Spring break and winter holidays are nothing compared with this.
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Writing Test Sample Prompt
(4th Grade)
Look at the picture below.
It takes talent to balance a basketball on your finger.
Write about a time when you discovered that you were good at something.
Be sure to —
• write about a personal experience
• organize your writing
• develop your ideas in detail
• choose your words carefully
• use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and
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sentences
Science Test Sample Question (5th Grade)
Some students attach a balloon to a straw and then tape the straw to the
top of a toy car. The students inflate the balloon and release the car. The
car travels 40 centimeters across the floor.
What should the students do to determine whether the force of the air from a
balloon is enough to push the car 40 centimeters across the same floor in
repeated trials?
A Test the car several times using an identical balloon filled with
different amounts of air
B Test the car several times using different-sized balloons filled
with the same amount of air
C Test the car several times using an identical balloon filled with
the same amount of air
D Test the car several times using different-sized balloons filled with different
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amounts of air
How Can Families Help?
 Talk,
ask questions, and
keep in touch with your
child's teacher
 Ask
your child to summarize
and explain their daily
assignments
 Support
tutoring programs
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How Else Can Families Help?

Read with your child every night

Ask questions about the reading and any
other homework they are doing


Reduce television, video game, Nintendo,
PSP, Wii, and cell phone time. Plan family
learning activities that will support your
child's learning
Most importantly emphasize:
“ YOU CAN DO IT!”
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