STAAR Performance Standards

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STAAR performance standards relate levels of test performance to the expectations defined in the state-mandated curriculum standards known as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).  Cut scores established by the agency distinguish between performance levels, or categories.  The process of establishing cut scores that define performance levels for an assessment is standard setting. Standard setting is also used to classify students into an appropriate performance category.

For STAAR and STAAR Spanish, the labels for the performance categories are

• Masters Grade Level
• Meets Grade Level
• Approaches Grade Level
• Did Not Meet Grade Level

STAAR Performance Labels and Policy Definitions (PDF updated 04/18/17)
STAAR 3–8 Performance Standards Chart (PDF updated 04/18/17)  
STAAR EOC Performance Standards Chart (PDF updated 04/18/17) 
STAAR Alternate 3–8 Performance Standards Chart (PDF posted 02/01/16)  
STAAR Alternate EOC Performance Standards Chart (PDF posted 02/01/16) 
STAAR Standard Setting Technical Report (PDF posted 03/25/13)  
Chapter 12: Redesigned STAAR English EOC Standard Setting (PDF posted 03/19/15) 
Chapter 13: 2015 STAAR Grades 3-8 Mathematics Standard Setting (PDF posted 09/28/15)
STAAR Standard Setting Questions and Answers (PDF updated 1/15/15)
STAAR 3-8 Standard Setting Process Overview (PDF posted 01/29/13)
STAAR EOC Standard Setting Process Overview (PDF posted 04/24/12)
STAAR Performance Level Descriptors (updated 04/15/19)
STAAR EOC External Validity Studies