One of the primary goals of the STAAR program (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) is to increase the rigor of the assessments so that students have the academic knowledge and skills they need to meet the challenges of the 21st century. As was the case with previous state assessment programs in Texas, the STAAR program will continue to assess the statewide content standards, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). However, the test design for STAAR is fundamentally different from past state assessments. STAAR assessments are being developed using three major design attributes: focus, clarity, and depth.
Focus
In an effort to structure STAAR assessments so that they are more focused, TEA has made a distinction between “readiness” and “supporting” standards from the TEKS content standards eligible for assessment. A set of readiness standards has been identified for each subject and grade or course drawn from the TEKS content standards eligible for assessment. These readiness standards will be emphasized annually in the STAAR assessments.
Clarity
The TAKS program was originally designed to assess a wide range of knowledge and skills, resulting in an assessment system that covered a breadth of content standards. The STAAR program is designed to focus assessments on readiness standards and course-specific content standards.
Depth
A primary feature of STAAR’s test design is a focus on preparedness for success in subsequent grades or courses and, ultimately, for college and career. This requires the tests to emphasize depth rather than breadth in assessing student expectations.
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Focus
In an effort to structure STAAR assessments so that they are more focused, TEA has made a distinction between “readiness” and “supporting” standards from the TEKS content standards eligible for assessment. A set of readiness standards has been identified for each subject and grade or course drawn from the TEKS content standards eligible for assessment. These readiness standards will be emphasized annually in the STAAR assessments.
Clarity
The TAKS program was originally designed to assess a wide range of knowledge and skills, resulting in an assessment system that covered a breadth of content standards. The STAAR program is designed to focus assessments on readiness standards and course-specific content standards.
Depth
A primary feature of STAAR’s test design is a focus on preparedness for success in subsequent grades or courses and, ultimately, for college and career. This requires the tests to emphasize depth rather than breadth in assessing student expectations.
- Readiness standards: (Readiness standards comprise approximately 30% of the TEKS but represent approximately 65% of the standards assessed by STAAR)
- require in-depth instruction (complex)
- necessitate higher level thinking
- are more difficult to teach
- represent important content for any single course or grade level
- support college and career readiness
- address broad and deep ideas (concepts)
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