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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 ofT TexasA Assessment ofA AcademicR Readiness

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The Law Each public school in Texas

must teach the same curriculum, the TEKS

T Texas E Essential K Knowledge and S Skills

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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.

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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.)

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Texas’ Instructional Program

Taught

Written Tested (STAAR)TEKS

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

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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 Grade: Reading and Math4th Grade: Reading, Math,

and Writing

5th Grade: Reading, Math, and Science

6th 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

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 2012-2013 assessment

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STAAR Test DatesMarch 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 MathApril 25, 2012: 3rd,4th,6th Grade ReadingApril 26, 2012: 5th Grade Science

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

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The same promotion requirements will apply to

students who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) or in Special

Education

STAAR TESTS

STAAR (English or Spanish) STAAR M (English or Spanish) STAAR Alternative

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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 open-ended ‘griddable’ items (Science and Math)

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

ASSESSED ACROSS YEARS

NOT ASSESSED

FOCUS OF ASSESSMENT

STAAR Readiness StandardsTEKS 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

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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 The reasons why the trees dislike Little Bird B The ways the trees prepare for the coming winter C The excuses the trees give for not helping Little Bird D 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 I jump higher than you can imagine. B She is talking to me, and I know it’s here! C Girl Scout cookie season has finally arrived! D 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

sentences

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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 amounts of air

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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!”