The STAR Program is designed to help measure how well students are achieving the California content standards.  The program also provides information about how well schools and school districts are meeting state and federal accountability requirements. All California students (including students with disabilities and English learners) in grades two through eleven must participate in the STAR Program each spring.

• California Standards Tests (CSTs)  An assessment that measure students’ achievement of California’s content standards for English–language arts, mathematics, science, and history–social science.
  • Students in Grades 2-11 are tested in English Language Arts and Math
    
  • Students in Grades 4 and 7 are tested in Writing
  • Students in Grades 8 and 11 are tested in History-Social Science
  • Students in Grade 5, and Grade 8-11 are tested in Science

• California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA)  For students in Grades 2-11 with significant cognitive disabilities who are unable to take the CSTs even with accommodations or modifications and whose individualized education program indicates assessment with CAPA. This alternate assessment measures achievement of California’s content standards for English–language arts, mathematics, and science.
  • Students in Grades 2-11 are tested in English Language Arts and Math
    
  • Students in Grade 5, 8 and 10 Science

• California Modified Assessment (CMA)  An alternate assessment of the California content standards based on modified achievement standards for children with disabilities grades 3-8 and meets the CMA eligibility critera. For a complete list of criteria, please go to:
  http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/participcriteria.asp
  • Students in Grades 3-11 are tested in English Language Arts
    
  • Students in Grades 3-7 are tested in Math
    
  • Students in Grades 7-11 are tested in Algebra | and Geometry
  • Students in Grade 4 and 7 are tested in Writing
  • Students in Grade 5, 8 and 10 are tested in Science

• Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS) A tests that measures achievement of California’s content standards for Spanish-speaking English learners who either receive instruction in their primary language or have been enrolled in a school in the United States less than 12 months.
  • Students in Grades 2-11 are tested in Reading/Language Arts and Math

• Early Assessment Program (EAP) A voluntary assessment that augments the CSTs for students who seek or intend to enroll in CSU or CCC, the EAP provides the CSU and CCC an opportunity to obtain information from the STAR tests about students’ readiness for college-level English and mathematics.
  • Students in Grade 11 are tested in Language Arts, Algebra 2, and summative high school math.

Standardized Testing and Reporting (CDE Website)

California Standards Test (CST) Released Questions - Released test questions for English-language arts, mathematics, history-social science, and science.

STAR Sample Questions - Learn more about the California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program and view real questions released from actual tests.