For some students, even the STAAR Alternate 2 may not be the right choice. There are two exceptions available:
- Medical Exception
- No Authentic Academic Response (NAAR).
Just like STAAR Online & STAAR ALT 2, your child must meet the specific eligibility criteria for either of these exceptions.
Students who qualify for a medical exception or no authentic academic response are not required to participate in any STAAR Alternate 2 test for any course or subject.
The ARD committee (which includes the parent) must determine that the student meets at least ONE of the following criteria:
- Unable to respond to test questions due to chronic illness,
- Receives extensive short term medical treatment due to medical emergency or serious injury,
- Unable to interact with peers or educators without risk of infection or contamination to self or others, and/or
- Unable to receive sufficient or consistent homebound services due to medical issues.
If at least one of these criteria is met, the ARD committee will discuss all assurances below:
- The medical condition prevents your child from participating in sufficient instruction
- Information used must reflect your child’s situation just prior to and throughout the testing window
- The medical condition must be identified and verified IN WRITING by a licensed physician and kept on file in the district.
The medical condition must be documented in your child’s IEP and this form must be included in the IEP.
No Authentic Academic Response
The ARD committee (which includes the parent) must determine that the student meets at least ONE of Two following criteria:
- Because of multiple impairments, the student is unable to receive information during instruction and assessment.
- The student is consistently unable to provide an authentic academic response during instruction. His or her behavior may be described by one or more of the following characterizations:
- The student is unable to demonstrate any observable reaction to a specific stimulus.
- The student exhibits only startle responses.
- The student tracks or fixates on objects at random and not for a purpose.
- The student moves or responds only to internal stimuli.
- The student vocalizes intermittently regardless of changes in environment around him/her.
If at least one of these criteria is met, the ARD committee will discuss all assurances below:
- The student is unable to receive information during instruction and assessment and/or the student is unable to provide an authentic academic response.
- The NAAR designation is based on educational records and describes the student in all settings
Additional Resources:
Texas Education Agency – STAAR Alt 2 Resources
