Science Transition Year FAQs for STAAR/EOC

2024-2025 is a transition year for implementing the new K-12 science standards. Teachers across Texas want to know if this year’s Science STAAR/EOC focuses solely on the new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Not quite. This year is designated a “transition year” for Texas science assessments. So, any content overlapping between the previous and current science TEKS is eligible for assessment in Grades 5 and 8 Science STAAR and the Biology EOC. 

During our ESC Region 13 STAAR Studded Events earlier this year, we received important questions regarding this year’s Science STAAR/EOC. We aim to address the most frequently asked questions to provide clarity and support. Let’s get started!

FAQs for Science STAAR/EOC

Question: What will be assessed on Science STAAR/EOC for 2024-25?

Answer: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has provided documents to help show what is eligible to be assessed this transition year in Grades 5 and 8 Science STAAR and Biology EOC. Via TEA’s STAAR Science Resources, there is a drop-down menu for “Assessed Curriculum.” Under the 2024-2025 Transition Year, links to each grade/content area tested show the overlap from previous to current standards. It is noted within each link that “the content in the black font is eligible to be assessed in the 2024-2025 school year.”

Bonus Tip: For Grade 5, notice if any Grades 3 and 4 standards are eligible to be assessed (in black font). For Grade 8, notice if any Grades 6 and 7 standards are eligible to be assessed (in black font).

Question: What are the Science STAAR/EOC item types for 2024-25?

Answer: This year’s Grades 5 and 8 Science STAAR and Biology EOC will have the same item types as in 2023-2024. Check out ESC Region 13’s TEI-STAAR Question Types Guidance Document to review these item types.

Question: How many questions will be on the Science STAAR/EOC for 2024-25?

Answer: Grade 5 will have 32 questions. Grade 8 will have 38 questions. Biology will have 45. Check out the breakdown of this information at ESC Region 13’s STAAR Blueprint Breakdowns and Response Rubrics.

Question: Is the Grade 8 Science reference chart updated for 2024-25?

Answer: No. This year’s Grade 8 Reference Materials for STAAR is the same as last year. To access this year’s reference materials, go to TEA’s STAAR Science Resources, go to “Additional Resources,” and click on Grade 8 Reference Materials (Spring 2025 Only).

Field-Tested Items on Science STAAR/EOC

Question: Will field-tested items be on the Science STAAR/EOC for 2024-25?

Answer: Yes. Field-tested items are questions included on the Science STAAR/EOC that do not count towards a student’s score. These items are used to assess the quality of the questions before determining their inclusion in future STAAR/EOC tests. Grades 5 and 8 will have six field-tested items. Biology will have eight field-tested items.

Some new item types are being field tested this year in Science, including inline choice and match-table grid. These item types have been used on other STAAR tests since the redesign, but have not appeared on any of the Science STAAR tests.

A new way to format items, cluster item sets, will also be field tested. Cluster item sets are where multiple items are associated with the same graphic or passage, similar to the RLA STAAR tests. Each item of an item cluster set is scored independently of the other items.

Examples of field-tested items and formatting can be found on TEA’s STAAR Released Test Questions under “Sample Test Questions” and within “Science Cluster Practice Sets”.

Science Transition Year FAQs and Short Constructed Response (SCR)

Question: Are spelling, grammar, and punctuation considered in the Science STAAR/EOC short constructed response (SCR) item types?

Answer: Science SCRs for 2024-2025 will be scored using the same rubric from 2023-2024. SCRs are worth up to 2 points. The rubric shows criteria for 0, 1, and 2 points. It does not include spelling, grammar, or punctuation. This rubric can be accessed at  ESC Region 13’s STAAR Blueprint Breakdowns and Response Rubrics.

Question: How many short constructed response (SCR) item types will there be on this year’s Science STAAR/EOC?

Answer: We do not know how many short constructed response (SCR) item types will be on each test. However, we do know how many 2-point questions (non-multiple choice) will be on Grade 5, Grade 8, and Biology. Check out the breakdown of this information at ESC Region 13’s STAAR Blueprint Breakdowns and Response Rubrics.

Question: What support can students have when taking the Science STAAR/EOC for 2024-25?

Answer: The best way to answer this question is to guide you to ESC Region 13 Assessment Specialist, Butch Hudson. Check out his blog post titled, “STAAR: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) & Answers,” which also includes access to the most up-to-date STAAR FAQ document. You can also submit questions directly to staar@esc13.txed.net.

Conclusion

2024-2025 has been a busy year for science. Teachers have familiarized themselves with new science standards and new instructional materials, and it is now a transition year for STAAR/EOC. It is a lot, and if you need further support between now and Science STAAR/EOC, we have you covered. 

Visit the ESC Region 13 Product Store for support with Science Grades 5 and 8. Check out our website for a current list of workshops and events focused on science. You can also view these in our catalog. Subscribe to our Science newsletter for the latest updates. Or contact us anytime at Vejheh.Tavakoli@esc13txed.net (Secondary Science) or Carolyn.Beardsley@esc13txed.net (Elementary Science).