Desmos Calculators for STAAR
Practice
All of these calculators comply with the feature requirements of STAAR. These are a great option for practicing before use on Testing Day.
Testing Day
Students can use either Test Mode or Desmos District Test Mode on Testing Day.
Test Mode
Test Mode can be used on Chromebooks, iPads, and iPhones through iOS and Android app stores. Learn more on our Test Mode information page.
Desmos District Test Mode
Since 2015, districts have been testing with Desmos during STAAR. Based on educator feedback over the years, we’ve built Desmos District Test Mode: the simplest and most secure way to use the Desmos calculators on Testing Day. To make sure using the Desmos calculators during STAAR is a smooth experience for IT departments, testing proctors, teachers, and students. Two key features:
Ensures students use the right calculator built specifically for STAAR: IT administrators can centrally pre-select the STAAR calculators, ensuring that students will use the correct tools on Testing Day. This mitigates the risk that students accidentally select a calculator customized for a different state.
Allows proctors to more easily scan the room: Desmos Districts displays a different color and title on the top bar of each calculator used during an assessment. This second layer of security allows proctors to visually verify whether a student is using the correct calculator for their grade level—even from across the room.
Texas Teacher Testimonial
Learn how Amery McIntosh at Sam Rayburn High School in Pasadena, Texas used Desmos calculators for instruction and assessment, and saw transformative results.
Webinar Schedule
Stay tuned for future webinar information!
Training Recordings
We’ll be posting our webinar recording shortly!
Instructional Webinar for Texas teachers!
Recorded Thursday, April 1, 2021
Participants in this webinar will learn ways to use the Desmos Graphing Calculator and Desmos Activity Builder for instruction. Attendees will see different examples of how the calculator’s visual and dynamic features help students make connections across multiple representations and deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts. Other examples will be worked within the Desmos Activity Builder to expose participants to both the student and teacher perspective of running an activity from teacher.desmos.com. We'll also touch on how Desmos is an approved calculator option for STAAR testing in SY20-21 and beyond. This webinar will be recorded and posted below after!
FAQ
Q. Can I use Desmos calculators for STAAR?
A. Yes! There are Texas-specific versions of each calculator, more information can be found on the Desmos Testing Page for Texas, more specifics can be found on TEA’s STAAR Calculator Policy Page.
Q. Which features are disabled in the Texas STAAR version of the calculators?
A. Please refer to this PDF for updated information about features enabled/disabled.
Q. How do I make sure my students are selecting the right calculators?
A. That’s exactly what Desmos District is designed to do! We have solutions in place for Chromebooks, iOS, and Windows devices. Shoot us an email at assessments@desmos.com to get set up or fill out this set-up survey to get started.
Feedback
We are excited about our recent Desmos District Test Mode app updates, and we are continuously making improvements. We would love your feedback on how we can support the best possible experience for your students and colleagues. Please email us at feedback@desmos.com with any questions or comments!