TELPAS vs STAAR: The Difference Between the Two Tests

STAAR measures what a student knows and can do in school subjects, such as reading, math and science, against the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). TELPAS measures how well a student who is learning English can listen, speak, read and write in English, against the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS).

So TELPAS is not like STAAR in purpose. STAAR asks whether a student has learned the grade-level content. TELPAS asks how far their English has developed. Both are required by the state, and an emergent bilingual (EB) student in a STAAR-tested grade usually takes both in the same spring.

The table sets out the main differences for the 2026–27 school year.

In general, yes. STAAR is for all students in the tested grades and courses, and emergent bilingual students are among them. That is why many EB students sit both tests each spring: TELPAS because they are learning English, and STAAR because they are in grade 3 or above or taking an end-of-course subject.

TELPAS, on the other hand, is only for emergent bilingual students. Every EB student in kindergarten through grade 12 takes it every year until they are reclassified as English proficient. That includes students whose parents declined bilingual or ESL services: declining the program does not end the testing.

If you have questions about how STAAR applies to your child, such as which version of a test they take or what supports are available, ask the school's Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC).

TELPAS comes first. According to TEA's updated testing calendar for 2026–27, the windows are as follows. Your child's school chooses the actual days inside each window, so ask the school for the schedule. There is more on the TELPAS window in our guide to TELPAS test dates.

• TELPAS and TELPAS Alternate: February 15–March 26, 2027.
• STAAR Alternate 2: March 15–April 16, 2027.
• STAAR grades 3–8 reading language arts, English I and English II: April 5–16, 2027.
• STAAR grade 5 science, grade 8 science, grade 8 social studies, Biology and U.S. History: April 12–23, 2027.
• STAAR grades 3–8 math and Algebra I: April 19–30, 2027.
• STAAR end-of-course tests also have a December 2026 window (November 30–December 11) and a June retest window.

A TELPAS report gives each of the four domains a rating from Beginning to Advanced High and combines them into a composite rating. In grades 2–12 each domain also has a scale score. There is no pass or fail on TELPAS; the result describes where a student's English stands. Our guide to TELPAS scores explains how to read one.

A STAAR report places a student in one of four performance levels: Did Not Meet Grade Level, Approaches Grade Level, Meets Grade Level or Masters Grade Level.

The timing is different too. TEA's calendar gives a reporting time frame of about eight weeks for TELPAS results, four to five weeks for STAAR grades 3–8, and two to three weeks for end-of-course tests. Your district will share your child's results with you.

This is where the two tests meet. Under TEA's reclassification criteria chart (updated February 2025), a student in grades 1–12 needs all three of the criteria below to be reclassified as English proficient, and the LPAC makes the decision.

That means a STAAR reading result does double duty for an emergent bilingual student. A student can reach Advanced High on TELPAS and still not be reclassified that year without a qualifying reading result, and the other way round. Our TELPAS reclassification guide covers the criteria grade by grade.

• A TELPAS composite rating of Advanced High.
• A qualifying reading result: STAAR reading language arts in grades 3–8, STAAR English I in grade 9 or STAAR English II in grade 10, at Approaches Grade Level or above. In grades 1–2 and 11–12, where there is no STAAR reading test, the chart uses the Iowa Assessments Form F, at the 40th percentile or above on each part.
• A Subjective Teacher Evaluation.

In September 2025, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 8, which replaces STAAR with three shorter tests at the beginning, middle and end of the school year, starting in 2027–28. Districts may use approved nationally recognized tests for the beginning and middle tests; the end-of-year test is TEA's. Results will be reported as percentile ranks, and the end-of-year test will also show approaches, meets or masters. English II will no longer be a graduation requirement, though students must still pass the end-of-year English I, Algebra I and Biology tests.

Spring 2027 is still STAAR. TEA has not yet published how the reclassification criteria will use the new tests, so check TEA's reclassification chart for updates.

TELPAS is changing on a slower timeline. The 2026–27 and 2027–28 tests keep the current blueprints and the four rating levels, and a new TELPAS is planned for 2028–29.

Because the tests measure different things, preparation looks different. For STAAR, the best preparation is the classroom work in each subject. For TELPAS, what helps most is steady use of English across all four domains, plus enough familiarity with the test format that nothing on the day is a surprise.

Start with what TELPAS is and how to prepare for TELPAS. The free TELPAS practice tests on this site are organized by grade and domain, so a student can focus on the domain that is holding their composite back. This site is independent and not connected to TEA; for official dates and rules, see TEA's 2026–27 testing calendar or ask your district.