Valencia High School


Friday, September 3, 2010

Valencia High School Honor Societies

What is STAR?

STAR Program is a standardized test that is currently administered by the state of California. For more information about the test, as well as test preparation resources and reports that are available for students, parents, and teachers, visit the California Department of Education.

California STAR Program Background

The governor signed Senate Bill 376 authorizing the STAR Program in October 1997. The State Board of Education, as required by statute, designated the Stanford 9 as the achievement test for the Program. This test was first administered to all California students during spring 1998. The Stanford 9 is a nationally norm-referenced multiple-choice achievement test. School districts are required to administer the test to all students in grades 2 - 11, except for:

Students receiving special education services with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) that specify that the students are to complete alternative assessments rather than the STAR Program tests and
Students whose parents or guardians submit written requests to exempt the students.

Students in grades 2 - 11 are tested in reading, language (written expression) and mathematics. Students in grades 2 - 8 are also tested in spelling, and students in grades 9 - 11 are tested in science and social science. The tests are administered to all students during a period that includes the 10 days before and 10 days after the day on which 85% of each school, program or track's instructional year is completed.

Beginning in 1999, additional test items in language arts and mathematics were added to the STAR Program. These additional items were initially referred to as the Stanford Augmentation and are now known as the California Standards Tests. During 2001, additional California Standards Tests were included in the program:

Grade 9 - 11 end-of-course science tests, and
Grade 9 - 11 history-social science tests.

The purpose of the California Standards Tests is to determine how well students are learning the skills and knowledge required by the California Content Standards for each grade or course.

In 1999 the SABE/2 was added to the Program. Spanish-speaking English language learners (limited-English proficient students) who have been enrolled in California public schools less than 12 months when testing begins are required to take the SABE/2 in addition to taking the Stanford 9 and California Standards Tests. Districts have the option of administering the test to Spanish-speaking English language learners who have been in California public schools 12 months or more.


	School Begins Tuesday, September 7th. Have a safe and fun Labor Day Holiday. Community Service - Summer Hours due Sept. 30, 2010! You have 30 days from the start of school to submit community service forms from your summer hours. Check the NEWS section for details.

The 2010 STAR Schedule: