Stand-Alone Field Test

The Stand-Alone Field Test (SAFT) in Texas is an assessment administered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to evaluate potential questions (items) for future State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exams. The test is called "stand-alone" because it is not tied to any particular curriculum or student performance accountability, meaning the scores do not impact the students, teachers, or schools directly.

Here are some key points about the SAFT:

• Purpose:  The primary goal is to assess how potential STAAR questions perform in a real testing environment, ensuring their validity, fairness, and appropriateness for future use in official exams.

• Subjects and Grades:  SAFT can cover a variety of subjects (like reading, math, science, social studies, etc.) across different grade levels, depending on the questions being tested for future STAAR tests.

• Participation:  Selected schools or districts participate, but not all schools in Texas are required to. Students in selected schools participate in the test during the school year.

• No Impact:  Since the test is designed solely for item development, students' results on this test do not affect their academic records, grade promotion, or any performance ratings.

• Voluntary Participation:  Some districts may choose to participate to help TEA improve the testing process, but participation can vary by district.

In summary, the Stand-Alone Field Test is a method used by Texas to develop and refine the questions that will eventually appear on STAAR tests.