STAAR Alternate 2 Resources

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 Texas definition of a student with a significant cognitive disability is a student who:

• exhibits significant intellectual and adaptive behavior deficits in their ability to plan, comprehend, and reason, and ALSO indicates adaptive behavior deficits that limit their ability to apply social and practical skills such as personal care, social problem-solving skills, dressing, eating, using money, and other functional skills across life domains;
• is NOT identified based on English learner designation or solely on the basis of previous low academic achievement or the need for accommodations; and
• requires extensive, direct, individualized instruction, as well as a need for substantial supports that are neither temporary nor specific to a particular content area. 

TEA has developed the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR^®) Alternate 2 assessment to meet the federal requirements mandated under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), a federal education law previously known as No Child Left Behind. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) designed the STAAR Alternate 2 to assess students in grades 3–8 and high school who have significant cognitive disabilities and are receiving special education services.

Texas ESEA 1.0 Percent Waiver

• 2022-2023 Texas One Percent Cap Waiver Request (PDF posted 1/3/23)
• 2022-2023 STAAR Alternate 2 Disproportionality Calculation (Excel posted 10/25/22)
• STAAR Alternate 2 Explanation and Assurance Summary (PDF posted 12/30/22)

The following image is an example form that LEAs received via electronic communication. Please do not complete the example form. 

• 2022-2023 STAAR Alternate 2 Assurances and Justification Form (PDF)

STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administration Resources

Updated Participation Requirements

• STAAR Alternate 2 Educator Guide (PDF updated 12/13/22)
• STAAR Alternate 2 and TELPAS Alternate Medical Exception Eligibility Requirements (English PDF 09/22/21)
• STAAR Alternate 2 and TELPAS Alternate Medical Exception Eligibility Requirements (Spanish PDF 09/22/21)
• STAAR Alternate 2 and TELPAS Alternate No Authentic Academic Response (NAAR) Eligibility Requirements (English PDF revised 09/22/21)
• STAAR Alternate 2 and TELPAS Alternate No Authentic Academic Response (NAAR) Eligibility Requirements (Spanish PDF 09/22/21)
• STAAR Alternate 2 Released Tests (06/26/19)
• STAAR Alternate 2 RLA Sample Items (1/6/23)
• STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator Manual (PDF 1/25/23)

STAAR Alternate 2 TEKS Alignment Documents

Use the links below to access STAAR Alternate 2 TEKS Alignment Documents.

• TEKS Curriculum Frameworks (updated 03/09/21) 
  • 

    RLA Curriculum Framework updated on 6/20/22

• Essence Statements (PDF posted 9/27/22) 

• Instructional Terms Lists  (PDFs updated 9/27/22)
• TEKS Vertical Alignments (PDF updated 1/28/21)
• Blueprints (PDF updated 8/22/22)

STAAR Alternate 2 Performance Standards

•  STAAR Alternate 2 Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs)
•  STAAR Alternate 2 Standard Setting Technical Report

STAAR Alternate 2 Data and Reports

Use the links below to access STAAR Alternate 2 Data and Reports.

• Raw Score Conversion Tables
• Item Analysis Reports

STAAR Alternate 2 Training Resources

• Administering STAAR Alternate 2 to Students with VI or AI Needs (PPT posted 02/22/16)
• Administering STAAR Alternate 2 to Students with VI or AI Needs (PDF posted 02/22/16)
• STAAR Alternate 2: Before, During, and After the Assessment. A training provided by TX CAN Leadership Network (External Link)
• Parent/Guardian STAAR Alternate 2 Eligibility Training (External Link) 

Texas Education Telecommunications Network

Choose a link below to access TETN in a specific file format:

• 2022-2023 Spring Updates for STAAR Alternate 2, TELPAS, and TELPAS Alternate (PDF posted 1/30/23) 
• 2022-2023 Spring Updates for STAAR Alternate 2, TELPAS, and TELPAS Alternate (PPT posted 1/30/23)
• 2022-2023 Fall Updates for STAAR Alternate 2, TELPAS, and TELPAS Alternate (PDF posted 10/19/22)
• 2022-2023 Fall Updates for STAAR Alternate 2, TELPAS, and TELPAS Alternate (PPT posted 10/19/22)

Additional Resources

• Texas Complex Access Network (TX CAN) Online Courses (External Link) 
•  Sign up for TX CAN Mailing List (External Link) 

Archive

View archived STAAR Alternate files no longer in use.