STAAR Testing
STAAR Testing
The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) was introduced during the 2011-2012 academic year, replacing the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). The STAAR assessments are administered to students in grades 3 through 8, as well as those enrolled in high school-level courses such as Algebra I, Biology, English I, English II, and U.S. History. These assessments are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards in the areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies.
Recently, the STAAR assessment was redesigned to facilitate online administration. This transition supports students in general education, special education, and English language learner programs. The redesign was initiated by House Bill (HB) 3906, passed by the 86th Texas Legislature in 2019, and was fully implemented during the 2022-2023 school year.
The updated STAAR assessment now features components such as online testing with accommodations, new question formats, cross-curricular passages, and evidence-based writing tasks.
Students will be assessed annually in Reading, Language Arts, and Mathematics for grades 3-8; Science for grades 5 and 8; and Social Studies for grade 8. End-of-Course (EOC) assessments will also be administered for Algebra I, Biology, English I, English II, and U.S. History.