STAR Reading Assessments

Star Reading

What is STAR Reading Assessments?

STAR Reading Assessments are designed to help teachers assess students quickly, accurately, and efficiently. STAR provides teachers with reliable and valid data instantly so that they can target instruction, monitor progress, provide students with the most appropriate instructional materials, and intervene with at-risk students. Administrators use real-time data from STAR to make decisions about curriculum, assessment, and instruction at the classroom, school, and district levels.

STAR Reading™ is an assessment of reading comprehension and skills for independent readers through grade 12. STAR Reading tracks development in five domains:

  • Word Knowledge and Skills

  • Comprehension Strategies and Constructing Meaning

  • Analyzing Literary Text

  • Understanding Author's Craft

  • Analyzing Argument and Evaluating Text

What are computer-adaptive tests?

All STAR assessments are computer-adaptive tests (CATs). Computer-adaptive tests continually adjust the difficulty of each child's test by choosing each test question based on the child's previous response. If the child answers a question correctly, the difficulty level of the next item is increased. If the child misses a question, the difficulty level is decreased. CATs save testing time and spare your child the frustration of items that are too difficult and the boredom of items that are too easy.

How long does it take to complete a STAR assessment?

STAR tests are designed to be as efficient as possible. On average, students will complete the STAR Math test in about 20 minutes, the STAR Reading test in about 15 minutes, the STAR Early Literacy test in 15-20 minutes. There are 30 questions. However, some students may require more time.

The STAR assessment can be administered multiple times throughout the year without jeopardizing the integrity of the test

What are STAR assessments used for?

The STAR assessments are often used to screen students for their reading achievement levels. STAR Reading help determine reading achievement levels to help teachers determine appropriate instructional levels and skills that students are ready to learn. It provides teachers with the following information

  • Current reading level

  • Areas where a child is experiencing successes and difficulties

  • Teaching strategies to help improve the child's area of concern

  • Monitor student growth throughout the year

What kind of score does my child get?

For every STAR assessment, your child receives a scaled score (SS), which is based on the difficulty of the questions and the number of correct answers. Scaled scores are useful for comparing your child's performance over time and across grades. STAR Reading scaled scores range from 0-1400.

How can I help my child prepare for a STAR assessment?

The teacher who gives the test uses pre-test instructions to explain the test to your child. It is important for you to encourage your child to try to do his or her best on the assessment. Since STAR is a general measure of student ability in reading, students perform best on the assessment in the same way they perform best in school-when they have had plenty of rest, attend school regularly, and have eaten.

How will I know how my child is doing?

Please ask your child's teacher for the results from any of the STAR assessments. Teachers can run a Parent Report for any of the STAR tests. Often teachers may share this information during a parent/teacher conference. You must contact your child's school or district directly about your child's information.