Overview

STAAR Alternate 2 is an assessment based on alternate academic standards and is designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities receiving special education services. STAAR Alternate 2 was developed to meet federal requirements of both the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The assessment consists of 24 scripted questions. The test materials include:

• a test administrator booklet with the scripted questions and administrations guidelines

• a student booklet that contains stimulus images and text needed for the student to select answers

Testing Window:  March 29 – May 7, 2021

​​Manuals

• District and Campus Coordinator Resources (DCCR)

Resources

• TEKS Curriculum Frameworks (updated 12/03/2019)
• Essence Statements (PDF posted 11/14/2019)
• Instructional Terms Lists (PDF updated 11/14/2019)

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Training Material

• Available February 2021
• Online Course:  STAAR Alternate 2:  Before, During, and After the Assessment 

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Forms

• Available February 2021

Supplemental STAAR Alternate 2 Training Module

As part of the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) ongoing efforts to improve the state’s testing program, the Student Assessment Division has developed a web-based training, the STAAR Alternate 2: Eligibility module to provide guidance to Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) committees to make assessment decisions based on state guidelines. 

Each training module consists of two videos and follow-up questions about the content covered in the videos.

After completion of the module, participants will be able to view the overall score and download a certificate of completion. Individuals will be prompted to fill in their first and last name and date of completion prior to printing or saving a copy of the certificate. Note that any unsaved certificates will not be retrievable at a later time. 

STAAR Alternate 2:  Eligibility

• This module helps ARD committee members assure that only students with significant cognitive disabilities are assessed with an alternate assessment. It is designed to supplement, not replace, the mandatory training required of all personnel involved in testing.