Sample Letter for Parents or Guardians, Grades 2-8

NOTE:  Before this letter is distributed, be sure to insert the information required in brackets and in bold.

Dear Parent or Guardian:

Enclosed is the STAR Student Report that provides your student’s 2007 test results for the California Standards Tests (CSTs). These tests are an important part of the California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program. The purpose of the CSTs is to determine how well students are achieving California’s content standards.

The CSTs were given for the following subjects:

• Grades two, three, four, six, and seven
  • English-language arts
  • Mathematics
• Grade five
  • English-language arts
  • Mathematics
  • Science
• Grade eight
  • English-language arts
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • History-social science

Students answered the multiple-choice questions on the CSTs by selecting one of four options as the correct answer. For the CST in English-language arts, students in grades four and seven also were required to write a response to a writing task. Scores on the multiple-choice questions and the writing task were combined to determine the overall score for the CST in English-language arts.

Grades Three and Seven Only

An additional component of the STAR Program, the California Achievement Tests, Sixth Edition Survey (CAT/6 Survey), was given to students in grades three and seven. The CAT/6 Survey assesses students in reading, language, mathematics, and spelling. Results of the CAT/6 Survey also are included in the STAR Student Report for the CSTs for grades three and seven.

The state target is for all students to perform at the proficient or advanced level on the CSTs. If your student’s performance is at the basic, below basic, or far below basic level in one or more subject areas tested, you are encouraged to schedule a meeting with your student’s teacher(s) to discuss assistance the school can provide to help your student improve his or her academic progress. Along with the STAR Student Report for the CSTs, you also will find a guide designed to help you understand your student’s scores.

It is important to keep in mind that information on the STAR Student Report for the CSTs is one source of information about the progress your student is making in school. Classroom work, grades, and other test results should also be reviewed for a more complete picture of your student’s academic progress.

If you have any questions, please contact the school at [insert contact information] or talk with your student’s teacher(s). You are also invited to attend a STAR Program information meeting being held [insert date] at [insert time] in [insert school location]. We look forward to talking with you about your student’s educational achievements.

Sincerely,