STAAR is an End of Course Exam taken in grades 3-8. According to the TEA website, "STAAR is a more rigorous testing program" than the previously used test, TAKS; it focuses on the "'readiness' standards, which are the knowledge and skills that are considered most important for success in the grade or course subject that follows and for college and career" (https://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/News_and_Multimedia/Brochures/STAAR_media_toolkit/).