STAAR Alternate 2 Participation Requirements

All students enrolled in Texas public schools and open-enrollment charter schools, including virtual schools, who are receiving special education services are required by federal and state law to participate in the Texas Assessment Program by taking academic achievement assessments in specific grades and subjects. A student’s ARD committee must determine if the student has the most significant cognitive disabilities and meets the participation requirements for STAAR Alternate 2 available on the STAAR Alternate 2 Resources webpage. The ARD committee must review and determine, for each school year, whether a student participates in STAAR or STAAR Alternate 2.

The following grade-level guidelines apply to students who take STAAR Alternate 2:

• Students in grades 3–8 who meet all participation requirements will take all applicable STAAR Alternate 2 subject assessments at their enrolled grade level. Students who take STAAR Alternate 2 should not take above-grade-level assessments.

• Students in grades 9–12 who meet all participation requirements will take STAAR Alternate 2 EOC assessments—Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology, and U.S. History. Students who are completing the corresponding course during this school year (August through July) should participate in the spring administration of STAAR Alternate 2.

• If students do not meet all participation requirements for STAAR Alternate 2, they must take STAAR.

In rare circumstances a student’s ARD committee may determine, prior to the administration of the assessment, that the student will not participate in STAAR Alternate 2 because the student meets the eligibility criteria for a medical exception or no authentic academic response. Refer to the eligibility criteria on the STAAR Alternate 2 Resources webpage for more information.

For information about students who enroll before or during the administration window, refer to the Student Mobility page of these Coordinator Resources.