Students will take the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR test, online this year.

This year will be the first year the STAAR test will be online for Mansfield Independent School District. As of 2022,  seventh-graders will be taking the Math and Reading tests, and eighth-graders will be taking the Math, Reading, Science, and Social Studies tests.

Kaleb Beasley has shown concern about the test being fully online.

“I think many students will try to cheat on the test,” Beasley said. “But I know it won’t happen because the teachers will take the students’ personal devices and they will be supervising the students’ actions.”

STAAR testing taking place online benefits students. It matches today’s society and it is more secure because the test papers can get lost, while they can be saved and seen online.

Beasley thinks that the STAAR test being taken online is better than being taken on paper.

“I feel it is better online than on paper,” he said. “Every time I have taken a test or quiz on paper has made me feel bored while taking it online has made me try to finish the tests and quizzes since I am used to seeing and doing things online.”

Seventh-grader Mason Johnson said he has a lot of concerns about his test. He believes that students will attempt to cheat but may not succeed in doing it.

“No matter what there are going to be outliers in the results,” he said.

For many students, there is a big change for this year’s STAAR test. There will be confusion, cheating, and struggles.

Cole Mitchel believes many students are unprepared for the STAAR test and will fail.

He says it is unfair to all the students who do fail it since it is only one test.

“I think it’s a bad thing overall,” he said. “A good amount of people might get held back.”

Mitchel believes that he is prepared but will still struggle with the test. Many students say the same or are just not prepared at all. It being online will actually help the students.

MISD is in “Phase 2” of the transition to online testing, where students take Math, Science, Reading Language Arts, and Social Studies exams online. 

Eighth-grader Micheal Ladele has expressed concern about the state hosting the test online.

“I think a lot of students will try to cheat,” said Ladele. “but I think the teachers know that, so they will heavily supervise us.” 

There are benefits to an online test. First, It eliminates the need for paper materials, which are easily lost. According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), online tests increase data accuracy and data collection. Finally, hosting tests online matches the realities of today’s environment, in which learners are digital natives.

Ladele is familiar with online testing and newer technologies that can be used for education.

“Most students are now used to online learning,” he said, referring to online learning during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic in the 2020-2021 school year. “The online tests are easier to take. I can easily go back and make sure I answered all the questions.”