STAAR Alternate 2 FAQs

Required STAAR Alternate 2 tests vary by grade level as follows:

• mathematics and reading language arts (RLA)—Grades 3–8
• science—Grades 5 and 8
• social studies—Grade 8
• end-of-course assessments (required for high school graduation) include Algebra I, Biology, English I, English II, and U.S. history.

TEA releases two types of test questions for the STAAR Alternate 2 program—sample questions and test forms. Sample test questions are small subsets of test questions released from the STAAR Alternate 2 test banks. These test questions may have been previously administered. A test form is a set of released test questions previously administered together to Texas students which reflects the STAAR Alternate 2 test blueprints. Full test forms that were previously tested can be found at STAAR Alternate 2 Released Test Questions page.

Each student is allotted the amount of time specified in their specific accommodations set by their ARD committee. The STAAR Alternate 2 assessment is administered during a five-week window. Pacing and student breaks are determined by the test administrator according to each student's need. For more information specific to your child, contact your local campus ARD coordinator.

For students with special needs, the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee makes the decision for each student based on the disability. The STAAR Alternate 2 has its own set of Allowable Accommodations. All STAAR Alternate 2 assessments are provided in paper form.

Language Proficiency Assessment Committees (LPACs) in conjunction with ARD committees decide what kinds of accommodations make sense for EB students. For students who are eligible for STAAR Alternate 2 and routinely receive their instruction in Spanish (grades 3–5), the presentation instructions only may be translated into Spanish. STAAR Alternate 2 is only provided in English.

Any student, including those who are assessed with STAAR Alternate 2 may graduate and be awarded a general high school diploma under the Foundations High School Program by meeting the state required course credits.

The STAAR Alternate 2 test provides scores for students using both scale scores and raw scores. The basic score on any test is the raw score, which is simply the number of questions answered correctly. Scale scores convert the raw score onto a scale that is common to all test forms for that assessment, taking into account the difficulty level of the specific questions on the test. It scores a student’s performance according to passing standards or proficiency levels. To learn more, visit the STAAR Alternate 2 Performance Standards page.

For assistance with or questions about any assessment program, please contact the Student Assessment Division of the Texas Education Agency using the Student Assessment Help Desk or by calling (512) 463-9536.