According to TEA, the STAAR will be redesigned to align more closely with effective classroom instruction. Working with a wide range of education stakeholders, including the Assessment Education Advisory Committee, TEA has been exploring the most instructionally supportive approach to implement these changes. The redesign includes several components:
- New types of test questions: New, non-multiple-choice question types are more like the kinds of questions teachers ask in class and give students more ways to show understanding.
- More cross-curricular reading passages: Reading comprehension test questions reference topics students have learned about in other classes.
- Evidence-based writing incorporated into reading language arts tests: Combined reading and writing tests better support the interconnected way these subjects are taught and eliminate stand-alone writing tests for grades 4 and 7.
- Robust accommodations in online tests: The online testing platform provides a full suite of robust accommodations for students with specific learning needs.
- Tests administered online: Online testing supports all of the changes above and provides faster test results to support accelerated learning. (The transition to online testing will be implemented beginning with the December 2022 administration.)
Based on educator feedback, TEA is releasing new and updated resources to ensure educators and students are familiarized with the redesigned STAAR.
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