Training for Teachers on STAAR Redesign

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STAAR

November 14, 2022

Texas Education Agency Update

Students walking up and down stairs at Collins High School

Learn More about the STAAR Redesign

Dear Educator,

Texas educators played an important role over the past two years in helping to shape the redesigned State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®), which will be implemented in Spring 2023. The redesigned STAAR, a result of House Bill (HB) 3906 passed by the 86th Texas Legislature in 2019, will align more closely with effective classroom instruction. The redesign includes several components:

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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. 

reading comprehension

More cross-curricular reading passages: Reading comprehension test questions reference topics students have learned about in other classes.

writing test

 

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.  

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Robust accommodations in online tests: The online testing platform provides a full suite of robust accommodations for students with specific learning needs. 

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Tests administered online: Online testing supports all the changes above and will provide faster test results in future years to support accelerated learning. The transition to online testing will be implemented beginning with the December 2022 administration. 


There are multiple opportunities for educators to
learn about the STAAR redesign, and all educators are encouraged to participate in at least one opportunity. Educators can receive CPE credit hours for participating in any of the following training opportunities, each of which cover the same STAAR redesign content:
 

  • An interactive professional development session facilitated by your district or regional Education Service Center (ESC) using TEA-provided materials. 
  • Online training modules hosted in the Student Assessment Learning Management System that can be completed on your own schedule. Please reach out to the appropriate testing coordinator if you need access to the learning management system. If you are unsure of who to contact for access, speak with your campus testing coordinator first.
  • Live STAAR redesign webinars hosted by TEA from November 28December 2, 2022, which cover the same information educators will receive in trainings offered by their ESC or district

Registration links for TEA webinars are bulleted below.

Please submit any questions about the training opportunities to the Student Assessment Help Desk. 

Thank you for all the work you do to support Texas students.  

Sincerely,

Texas Education Agency