• General information

    State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR)

    TEA implemented STAAR in spring 2012, and redesigned STAAR as an online test in spring 2023 to fulfill requirements enacted by the Texas Legislature. STAAR helps to ensure that Texas students are competitive with other students both nationally and internationally. One important function of STAAR is to gauge how well schools and teachers are preparing their students academically. The test is specifically designed to measure individual student progress in relation to content that is directly tied to the TEKS. Every STAAR question is directly aligned to the TEKS currently in effect for the grade/subject or course being assessed.

    • STAAR includes assessments for grades 3–8 mathematics and reading language arts, grades 5 & 8 science, and grade 8 social studies.
    • STAAR EOC assessments are required for Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology, and U.S. History. 
    • STAAR Spanish is available for grades 3-5 mathematics and reading language arts, and grade 5 science. STAAR Spanish is administered to eligible students for whom a Spanish version of STAAR is the most appropriate measure of their academic progress. STAAR Spanish tests are grade-level assessments and test the same grades and subjects as the general STAAR.

     

    State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness Alternate 2 (STAAR Alternate 2) 

    The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness Alternate 2 (STAAR Alternate 2) fulfills federal requirements of both the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). ESEA requires that all students be assessed in specific grades and subjects throughout their academic career, whereas IDEA requires that students with disabilities have access to the same standards as their nondisabled peers and be included in statewide assessments.

    STAAR Alternate 2 is a standardized item-based assessment administered individually to each eligible student enrolled in grades 3–8 and end-of-course (EOC) subjects. STAAR Alternate 2 is administered to eligible students with significant cognitive disabilities who are receiving special education services in the following grades and subjects:

    • Grades 3–8 Reading Language Arts (RLA)
    • Grades 3–8 Mathematics
    • Grades 5 and 8 Science
    • Grades 8 Social Studies
    • Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology and U.S. History

     

    Texas English Language & Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS)

    The Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) fulfills federal requirements for assessing the English language proficiency of emergent bilingual (EB) students in kindergarten through grade 12 in four language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. TELPAS reports student performance in terms of four English language proficiency levels: beginning, intermediate, advanced, and advanced high. TELPAS results are used in accountability and performance-based monitoring indicators. The assessment components for grades K–1 and 2–12 include the following:

    Grades K–1

    • TELPAS includes holistically rated listening, speaking, reading, and writing tests based on ongoing classroom observations and student interactions. 

    Grades 2–12

    • TELPAS includes online listening and speaking tests and reading and writing tests.  

     

    Texas English Language & Proficiency Assessment System Alternate (TELPAS Alternate)

    The Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System Alternate (TELPAS Alternate) fulfills federal requirements for assessing the English language proficiency of emergent bilingual (EB) students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who cannot participate in the general ELP assessment, even with allowable accommodations. EBs in grade 2 through grade 12 are assessed in four broad language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. TELPAS Alternate reports student performance in terms of five alternate English language proficiency levels: awareness, limitation, early independence, developing independence and basic fluency.

     

    Credit by Exam (CBE)

    The Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.023, allows students in primary grades to accelerate a grade level and students in secondary academic courses to earn credit for a course on the basis credit by examination.

    • EPISD offers Credit by Exam testing at all campuses in four separate testing windows throughout the school year.
    • Interested parties should contact their campus counselor for information and forms.