Types and Purpose Flashcards
7 cards from real STAR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Types and Purpose flashcards as text
Which of the following student populations was NOT required to participate in STAR testing?
Answer: Students who have been enrolled in a US school for less than 12 months (limited EL exemption)
Newly arrived English Learners who had been enrolled in US schools for fewer than 12 months could be exempted from the ELA portion of STAR in their first year.
What does a school's Academic Performance Index (API) score range of 200–1000 represent?
Answer: A composite measure of student performance on STAR and other state assessments
The API is a composite index from 200 to 1000 based on student performance on STAR and other state tests, with 800 as the statewide target.
How were students with disabilities who could not participate in any STAR component (CST, CMA, or CAPA) counted for AYP purposes?
Answer: They were counted as non-proficient, which could affect the school's AYP status
Federal AYP rules required that all students be counted; students who could not test were typically counted as non-proficient, creating an incentive to find the appropriate alternate assessment.
Which statement accurately describes the difference between the CST and the Stanford Achievement Test within STAR?
Answer: The CST is aligned to California standards; the Stanford compares students to a national norm group
The CST is criterion-referenced against California's own standards, while the Stanford Achievement Test is norm-referenced against a national sample.
A teacher reviews STAR data showing 60% of her class scored Below Basic in fractions. What is the MOST appropriate use of this information?
Answer: Use it to adjust instructional focus and provide targeted intervention in fractions
STAR data is intended to inform instructional decisions; a score pattern like this signals a need for targeted re-teaching and intervention.
Which of the following is a key reason the STAR program was eventually replaced by the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBAC)?
Answer: California adopted the Common Core State Standards, which required new aligned assessments
When California adopted Common Core standards, the existing STAR tests no longer aligned with the new standards, necessitating a transition to SBAC.
What was the primary purpose of administering the STAR tests in a standardized manner (same conditions, same timing for all students)?
Answer: To ensure results were valid, reliable, and comparable across schools and districts
Standardized conditions ensure that score differences reflect actual differences in student knowledge rather than differences in testing environment.