The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) replaced the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) in spring 2012. The Texas Education Agency (TEA), in collaboration with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and Texas educators, developed STAAR in response to requirements set forth by the 80^th, 81^st, and 83^rd Texas legislatures. This new system focuses on increasing postsecondary readiness of graduating high school students and helps to ensure that Texas students are competitive with other students both nationally and internationally.

The STAAR program at grades 3–8 assesses the same grades and subjects as were assessed on TAKS – reading and mathematics (3-8), writing (4, 7), science (5, 8), and social studies (8). Following a multi-year phase-in of standards, the following four performance categories for STAAR were implemented in spring 2017: 

• Masters Grade Level
• Meets Grade Level
• Approaches Grade Level
• Did Not Meet Grade Level

A Spanish version of each test is available in grades 3-5, and the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment is available for students with significant cognitive disabilities.