From:  TEA The STARR The Next Generation Information

Beginniing in spring 2011, students will start a new voyage with the launch of the next testing program called the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness or STARR.

What is STAAR?

STARR is a more rigorous standardized testing program that will replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) for elementary, middle and high school students.  The new STAAR program will emphazie "readiness" standards, which are considered most important for success in the grade or subject that follows for college and career.

What tests must you take in high school?

Follow up:

Students first entering ninth grade in the 2011-2012 school year will notice the biggest difference in the new testing program.  Under the TAKS program, students were required to take two test in the ninth grade and four in both the 10th and 11th grade.  In order to graduate, students were required to pass four exit-level tests given at 11th grade.  With the new STARR program, the exit-level tests will be replaced with 12 end of course (EOC) assessments, which students will take as they complete the correcsponding course.

The 12 EOC assessments are:

1)  English 1, English 11, English 111

2) Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 11

3)  Biology, Chemistry, Physics

4)  World Geography, World History and US.  History

If a student is enrolled in grade 8 or below and is taking a course for which there is a STARR EOC assessment, that student will be required to take the applicable STAAR Algebra I EOC, as well as the grade 9 reading, science, and social studies assessment.  Local school district policy will determine whether this student will also take the STAAR grade 8 mathematics assessment.

How is STAAR different from TAKS?

The new end of course assessment will only assess the Texas Essential Knowledge and SKills for a given course, unlike the high school TAKS tests that cover material from multiple courses.

The question on the new STAAR will be deeper and more complex than TAKS.

1) In reading, greater emphasis will be given to critical analysis, rather than to literal understanding.

2) In writing, students will be required to write two essays instead of one, and the English EOC assessments will be administered over two days.

3) In science and math, the number of open-ended (griddable) questions will increase to allow students to derive an answer independently.

In addition, a student's score on the STAAR EOC assessment will count 15 percent towards the student's final grade in taht course.  each of th 12 end-of-course assesssments will be available in paper format and online.  Also, for the first time since the state began its standardized testing program, there will be a four-hour time limit to compelte the test unless the student obtains a special exception.

What do you need ot graduate?

To graduate, a student must have a yet-to-be-determined cumulative score on all of the EOC assessments taken in each content area:  English, math, science,and social students.  Besides mettting the cumulative score requirement in each of the four core content ares, students, on the Recommended High School Program, which is the standard graduation plan, must pass the Algebra ii and English 111 EOC assessments.  The passing standards will be set in february 2012.

The STARR graduation requirements apply to students first engerting the ninth grade in fall of 1011.  All other current high school students will graduate on the TAKS program.

Will students who receive spe ial education services take the STAAR?

The admission, review and dismissal (ARD) committee for a student who recieves speical education services will determine the appropriate test.

What happens if you pass the course but fail the test?

If a student passes teh course, but does not earn the required minimum score on gteh EOC assessment, teh student may retake teh test.  The student is not required to retake a course as a condition of retaking the test for that course.

The school is required to provide accelerated instruction to each student who fails to perform satisfactorily on any EOC assessment.

Phase-Out Plan for TAKS and Phase-In of STAAR EOC Assessments

Grade 9 STARR tests in: 2011-2012,  2012-2013,  2013-2014,  2014-2015

Grade 10 TAKS 2011-2012, STAAR 2012-2012 STAAR. 2013-2014 STAAS, 2014-1015 STAARS

Grade 11 TAKS 2011-2012,  TAKS 1012-1013,  TAKS 2013-2014,  TAKS 2014-2015

More information about STARR can be found at:

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/