Star360 Assessments

Pacific Coast Academy will continue to use the Star360 assessment for our TK-11 students this year. We listened to the feedback from parents and have chosen this short, online assessment because of its adaptive and non-adaptive choices. This diagnostic tool pinpoints students' needs down to the sub-skill level.  It provides insights and support for the successful implementation of the standards for each student’s grade level that can be used for guiding instruction.  PCA will provide parents with the results of Star 360, so the parent and teacher can work together to create a personalized learning plan for each student. We assure you that this assessment is for internal purposes, and the student data is never shared with anyone other than the parent and teacher.

All students, TK-11,  will participate in Star 360 in the fall, mid-year, and again in the spring. Any student who enrolls after the 1st testing window closes will be asked to take STAR 360 within 2 weeks of enrollment. As part of the STAR 360 assessment, 1st-11th grade students will take both the Star Math and Star Reading (or Star Early Literacy for TK and K). Students in Grades 1-3 who are not fully reading will have the option to take the Early Literacy assessment instead of the Reading assessment. All 1st-11th graders will complete the Math assessment. Each assessment only takes approximately 20 minutes.  

Your student's login information is found on the Login tab of your Family Google Doc. The results will also be posted in the Doc.

During each testing window, please have your:

• 1st-11th grade students log on to complete 1 Math assessment and 1 Reading assessment

• TK and K students complete just the Early Literacy assessment  

STAR Early Literacy (combines Math and Reading): All students in TK and K…. Yes, you heard correctly...All TK and K students need to take only one test! Students in grades 1-3 who are not fully reading have the option to take the Early Literacy assessment instead of the Reading assessment.

STAR Math: All students 1st-11th grade

STAR Reading: Students in 1st-11th grade. Students in grades 1-3 who are not fully reading have the option to take the Early Literacy assessment instead of the Reading assessment.

Note: If a TK student turns 5 after the end of the calendar year, the fall STAR 360 assessment will be optional. However, they will need to take STAR 360 in the spring.

The results will be posted on your Family Google Doc.

 Helpful Tips for Taking the Assessments:

●     STAR tests are designed to be as efficient as possible. On average, students will complete each assessment in about 20 minutes. Some students may require more time.

●     Select a day when your child is well-rested and does not feel rushed. It is important for you to encourage your child to try to do his or her best on the assessment.  Advise your student(s) they may come across questions they don’t know, and that is okay.

●     Due to the nature of this style of testing, it is important for your student to take this on their own without any help or coaching. If you are sitting with them and know they are just guessing and don’t know the answer, it is better to mark the wrong answer. That way the program will not escalate the difficulty of questions.

●     Start with the Math assessment first for 1st-11th grade students. Make sure students have scratch paper and a pencil next to the computer to work out problems. (Studies show that if students begin with reading they rarely work out the math problems on scratch paper, but tend to guess instead.)

●     Take a break between assessments. Take a few hours or a day apart. Please make sure they do not do too much at one time.

●     Early Literacy Students: Please watch Mouse and Keyboard Video (2 Minutes).  TK and K students will need headphones or speakers to hear the audio portion.