STAR (software)

Infobox Software
name = STAR Reading, STAR Early Literacy, and STAR Math

STAR Reading and STAR Early Literacy (blue) and STAR Math (green) logos.


caption = "Splash screen" for "STAR Reading Management," the teacher/administrator access to STAR Reading, version 2.3 for Microsoft Windows.
author =
developer = Renaissance Learning
latest release version = STAR Math 2.1.3, STAR Reading 2.4.2
latest release date =
latest preview version =
latest preview date =
operating system = Windows, Mac
platform =
genre = Educational
license =
website = http://www.renlearn.com/starreading/ http://www.renlearn.com/starearlyliteracy/ http://www.renlearn.com/starmath/

STAR Reading, STAR Early Literacy and STAR Math are standardized, computer-adaptive assessments created by Renaissance Learning, Inc., for use in K-12 education. Each is a "Tier 2" assessment of a skill (reading practice, math practice, and early literacy, respectively) that can be used any number of times due to item-bank technology. These assessments fall somewhere between daily progress monitoring tools ("Tier 1") and high-stakes tests.

Original meaning

STAR, as an acronym, used to mean "Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading." [Samuels, S.J., & Wu, Y. (2003). The effects of immediate feedback on reading achievement. Manuscript sumbitted for publication, University of Minnesota. "Note". The paper discusses the "Standardized Test of Assessment of Reading," which is somewhat incorrect.] This meaning is no longer maintained, as the company has created STAR assessments for skills in domains other than reading. STAR Reading, the first STAR assessment, was originally just "STAR." Since the creation of STAR Math, the original STAR has been renamed to STAR Reading. Confusion may also arise with California's STAR (Standardized Testing and Reporting) or the Supplementary Tests of Achievement in Reading published by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, but these are not the same assessments.

Purpose

The purpose of the STAR assessments is to provide information to teachers about student growth and achievement in grades 1-12. Students take the assessment and it is scored automatically by the software. Teachers and administrators are able to view and print a number of reports at the individual, classroom, and grade level in order to monitor progress. Teachers can then tailor instruction to individuals and to high-stakes testing requirements.

TAR assessments

Each assessment provides estimates of students' skills and comparisons of students' abilities to national norms. Each is intended to aid with developing curriculum and instruction by providing feedback about student, classroom, and grade level progress. The software reports grade equivalents, percentile ranks, and normal curve equivalents.

Each assessment is standardized and highly correlated to other assessments. Thus, the results predict achievement on other standardized tests. For more on the reliability and validity of these assessments, see below.

All STAR products were available as stand-alone and network software, but now the company strongly advertises the web-based Renaissance Place version.

TAR Reading

The purpose of STAR Reading is to assess student reading skills. The assessment provides an approximate measure of each students' reading level. The company claims that students can complete the assessment in less than 10 minutes.

TAR Early Literacy

The purpose of STAR Early Literacy is to assess students' early literacy skills in preparation for reading. SEL identifies student reading levels (e.g. Emergent Reader) and provides student performance results for pre-K through third grade students. The company claims that students can complete the assessment in less than 10 minutes.

TAR Math

The purpose of STAR Math is to assess student mathematics skills. The assessment provides an approximate measure of each students' math level. The company claims that students can complete the assessment in less than 12 minutes.

Reliability and validity

The reliability of an assessment is the extent to which scores from the assessment will remain the same between two administrations within a short period. The validity of an assessment is the extent to which the assessment measures what it claims to measure.

A number of other studies have demonstrated the reliability and validity of STAR Reading, [http://research.renlearn.com/research/pdfs/133.pdf STAR Reading Reliability] report - PDF file] , STAR Math, [http://research.renlearn.com/research/pdfs/135.pdf STAR Math Reliability] report - PDF file] and STAR Early Literacy. [http://research.renlearn.com/research/pdfs/134.pdf STAR Early Literacy Reliability] report - PDF file] Additionally, a number of studies have demonstrated the correlation between STAR assessments and other tests of similar skills. [http://research.renlearn.com/results.asp?product=Any&type=Reliability+and+Validity+Assessment+Research&gradelevel=Any&demographics=Any&state=Any&keywordtextfield=&keywordsearchtype=all&researchgo.x=25&researchgo.y=14 Research] on STAR assessments] As with any assessment or test, however, student scores "will" vary each time the assessment or test is administered. This concept is called the statistical error of a measurement.

External agencies, like the National Center on Student Progress Monitoring (NCSPM), have assessed the STAR products and found them to be technically sound. [http://www.studentprogress.org/chart/chart.asp NCSPM chart] comparing eight "Progress Monitoring Tools"] Additionally, the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL) has categorized STAR Reading and STAR Early Literacy as criterion-referenced and norm-referenced assessments. [http://www.sedl.org/reading/rad/chart.html Comparison chart] , published by the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, listing a variety of reading assessment tests, the grades they are applicable for, and the cognitive elements that they evaluate.] In this latter case, the STAR Early Literacy package is said to evaluate eight cognitive elements.

STAR Early Literacy was mentioned in the 2006 Readers' Choice Awards: Best Reading Software, a survey by eSchool News. [http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/surveys/editorial/rca/eSNOct06RCA.pdf]

Criticism

The STAR Math, STAR Reading, and STAR Early Literacy programs have been criticized for giving inconsistent results with the same student, causing students to mistakenly think their abilities in reading or math are at a level that differs from their actual abilities. As mentioned earlier, however, scores "will" vary from each testing due to statistical measurement error.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) stated in a Summer 2005 letter that it no longer accepts STAR Reading scores for measuring reading "performance progress." [http://www.isbe.state.il.us/ILS/ela/reading/pdf/ribg_newsletter07_08.pdf Newsletter published by] the Illinois State Board of Education in July/August 2005, disallowing future use of STAR Reading towards Illinois educational grant programs. PDF file.] Since the ISBE issued this letter, the SEDL has updated its database, and has re-categorized STAR Reading as an assessment of reading comprehension.

ee also

*Renaissance Learning
*Accelerated Reader
*Accelerated Math

References

External links

* [http://www.renlearn.com/ Renaissance Learning, Inc.] - Also see the Wikipedia entry
* [http://www.renlearn.com/starreading/default.htm STAR Reading] webpage
* [http://www.renlearn.com/starmath/default.htm STAR Math] webpage
* [http://www.renlearn.com/starearlyliteracy/ STAR Early Literacy] webpage
* [http://research.renlearn.com/ Research page] - look up studies correlating STAR assessments to other tests.