Testing Irregularities

A number of schools experienced testing irregularities in their 2000 STAR administration. Since the scores for students for whom testing irregularities were reported are not included in the school results, the school scores may not accurately reflect the student achievement at these schools.

• List of schools with STAR 2000 testing irregularities

Viewing STAR 2000 Test Reports

To view a Stanford Achievement Test summary report for the State of California, a specific county, school district, or school, click the appropriate button on the left. For assistance in navigating through the report selection process, click on:

• Navigating the Stanford Achievement and California Standards Test Reports

• Spanish Assessment of Basic Education summary reports

About the STAR Reports

The 2000 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program includes three components; the Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition, Form T; the California Standards Tests in language arts and mathematics; and the Spanish Assessment of Basic Skills, 2nd Edition (SABE/2).

Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition, Form T
The first part, the Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition, Form T, was designated by the State Board of Education for use in the STAR program in November 1997, was first administered in spring 1998, and has subsequently been administered to all students in grades 2 through 11 in 1999 and in 2000. Because the Stanford 9 is a nationally-normed test that has not changed in any way over the three years that it has been administered in California, results from 2000 can be compared directly to results from 1999 and 1998. For information on making year to year comparisons, see About the Scores. Because the Stanford 9 results are comparable from year to year, those results are used for California's Academic Performance Index (API.) However, the calculation of the API does not use the Stanford 9 results that are posted on the Internet, so caution is advised in comparing a school's Stanford 9 results over time against the school's API scores.

The subjects and grades tested with the Stanford 9 are defined by statute. Although some schools may administer additional sub-tests that are optional, results are reported only for the mandated subjects. (Grades and Subjects Reported)

California Standards Tests
Tests composed of items that address California's State Board of Education adopted content standards in English language arts and mathematics were added to the STAR program in 1999 to augment the Stanford 9 where the Stanford 9 did not include items that would address particular California standards.

In 1999, 35 language arts items at each grade level 2 through 11 comprised the "STAR augmentation" in language arts. Scores for California content standards in language arts were calculated by combining the number correct out of 35 with the number correct on selected Stanford 9 items that language arts experts had determined did address grade level content standards. At grades two and three, 40 Stanford 9 items were identified, so the language arts score was the number correct out of 75 items (35+40.) At grades four through eleven, 55 Stanford 9 items at each grade level were identified; the language arts scores at those grades were composed of the number correct out of 90 items (35+55.)

The California Standards Tests in language arts include the same numbers of items in 2000 as were used in 1999. That is, at grades two and three, the scores are reported as the number correct out of 75; at grades four through eleven, scores are reported as number correct out of 90.

The California Standards Tests in mathematics in 1999 were comprised of grade level tests in grades 2 through 7 and grade 11, and six course-related tests for students in grades 8 through 10. In 1999, each California Standards mathematics score included 35 items specifically developed to address California standards, and 15 items from the Stanford 9 at each grade level. The score was reported as number correct out of 50 items (35+15). Although students in grades 8 through 10 were to take the test corresponding to course enrollment, "foundation" items were identified only for algebra 1/integrated mathematics 1 at grade 8; geometry/integrated mathematics 2 at grade 9, and algebra 2/integrated mathematics 3 at grade 10. Results were reported only for students who took the test designated for their grade level. For each mathematics test, results are reported as the average number correct out of 50 items total.

In 2000, all California Standards tests in mathematics were increased to 50 items. The 15 "foundation" items were maintained and the 2000 California Standards test results in mathematics are reported as average number correct out of 65 items total (50+15).

For further information about the California Standards Test scores, go to About the Scores.

Spanish Assessment of Basic Education, 2nd Edition (SABE/2)
The SABE/2, published by CTB-McGraw Hill, was first administered for the STAR program in 1999. School districts were required to use the SABE/2, designated by the SBE in November 1998, to test all Spanish-speaking students who first enrolled in a California public school fewer than 12 months prior to testing. The use of the SABE/2 with Spanish-speaking students enrolled longer than 12 months was optional. The SABE/2 was administered in 2000 with the same conditions as in 1999. For further information about the subjects and grades tested, or the scores and reports, go to SABE/2.

Need help? Click on the Pencil icon for explanatory notes and other help with reports or research files. Remember that these reports may be printed, but may not appear as you see them when printed in standard portrait mode. Adjust your print setting to landscape (sideways) mode for better results.

In order to protect student confidentiality, no scores are reported for any group of 10 or fewer students.

The results posted at this Web site are based on data provided by Harcourt Educational Measurement (Stanford 9 and STAR Augmentation) and CTB/McGraw-Hill (SABE/2) under contract with the California Department of Education.

The 2000 results posted on this web site are final.

(Posting Date: October 15, 2001)