Overview of Texas Assessments - STAAR, STAAR Spanish, STAAR A, STAAR L, STAAR Alternate 2, TELPAS

Sep 30, 2026

Overview of Texas state assessment programs and eligibility pathways for different student needs. Covers STAAR general assessments, STAAR Spanish for qualifying ELLs, STAAR A online with embedded tools and integrated accommodations for eligible students with disabilities and specific ELL circumstances, and STAAR L for substantially linguistically accommodated online testing. Includes STAAR Alternate 2 for students with cognitive disabilities requiring specialized supports, and TELPAS K–12 language proficiency testing across listening, speaking, reading, and writing with stated exemptions and participation rules.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages22

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Overview of Texas Assessments

STAAR (General State Assessment)

STAAR Spanish

STAAR A (Online with Embedded Accommodations)

STAAR L (Substantially Linguistically Accommodated)

STAAR Alternate 2

TELPAS K-12 (Language Proficiency Domains)

Paper Testing Limitations

Overview of Texas Assessments | Assessment | Description | Eligibility | | --- | --- | --- | | STAAR Reading 3-8, Writing 4 and 7, Math 3-8, Science 5 and 8, Social Studies 8
STAAR EOC
English I, English II, English III, Algebra I, Algebra II, Biology, US History | General state assessment | STAAR with approved or allowable accommodations should first be considered for all students. | | STAAR Spanish 3-5 Reading, Writing, Math, Science | General native language version of STAAR (Linguistic accommodations not permitted because assessment is in student’s native language. ) | ELLs whom a Spanish version exists and most appropriately measures their academic progress. | | STAAR A Reading 3-8, Writing 4 and 7, Math 3-8, Science 5 and 8, Social Studies 8
STAAR A EOC
English I, English II, English III, Algebra I, Algebra II, Biology, US History | A general version of STAAR administered online with online tools, accessibility features**, and embedded accommodations integrated into the online system. Embedded supports include answer eliminator, highlighter, eraser, pencil, notepad, dot tool*, line tool*, ruler*, calculator(s)*, text-to-speech, zoom, color and contrast, place marker, pop-ups, roll-overs, blank graphic organizers, writing checklists, visual aids, , clarifications of construct-irrelevant terms, and exhibit windows.(*Subject specific) (**features may change) | Students with identified disabilities who are receiving special education services and/or students with a dyslexia or related disorder (§ TEC 38 .003) who are receiving Section 504 services.
ELLs identified with a disability who are receiving services. (See above)
Two or more accommodations must be checked in a subject to be eligible to participate in STAAR A in that subject . (See STAAR A Eligibility Requirements Form) | | STAAR L^ Math 3-8, Science 5 and 8, Social Studies 8
STAAR L EOC
Algebra I, Algebra II, Biology, US History | A substantially linguistically accommodated version of STAAR administered online with accommodations integrated into the online system. Embedded supports include text-to-speech and clarification in English of word meaning. | ELLs who require moderate to substantial linguistic accommodations to understand the English language, are not most appropriately assessed with STAAR Spanish, AND have not yet attained a TELPAS advanced high reading rating, AND have been enrolled in US schools for 3 years or less (5 years or less if a qualifying asylee or refugee) .
LPACs should consider whether a student routinely needs and uses clarification in English of word meaning and reading text aloud of text. Students who do not need either accommodations should take STAAR, not STAAR L. | | STAAR Alternate 2
Reading 3-8, Writing 4 and 7, Math 3-8, Science 5 and 8, Social Studies 8
STAAR Alternate 2 EOC English I, English II, Algebra I, Biology, US History | An alternate assessment version of STAAR based on essence statements that serve as the connection between grade-level TEKS and STAAR Alternate 2. A question-based approach consisting of 24 questions. (No specific list of allowable linguistic accommodations since it is designed to allow for any language or other communication method routinely used with the student.) | Student is identified as having a cognitive disability (ID) AND requires specialized supports to access the grade-level curriculum and environment AND requires intensive, individualized instruction in a variety of instructional settings AND accesses and participates in the gradelevel TEKS through prerequisite skills. | | TELPAS K-12 ^(Language Domains) Listening Speaking Reading Writing | Assesses the English language proficiency of K–12 ELLs in four language domains—listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The assessment components for grades K–1 and 2–12 differ in the following ways:
-grades K–1: TELPAS includes holistically rated listening, speaking, reading, and writing assessments based on ongoing cl

FAQs

What is the primary consideration for students needing accommodations on Texas state assessments?

STAAR with approved or allowable accommodations should first be considered for all students when accommodations are appropriate and allowable during state assessments.

Who is eligible to participate in STAAR Spanish?

Students who are ELLs for whom a Spanish version exists and that most appropriately measures their academic progress.

How does TELPAS participation differ across K–1 and grades 2–12?

TELPAS uses holistically rated listening, speaking, reading, and writing based on classroom observations for grades K–1, while grades 2–12 include multiple-choice reading tests, holistically rated writing collections, and holistically rated listening and speaking based on ongoing observations.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Quinn Holloway