CARS & STARS Online

The CARS & STARS Online reading comprehension program is a robust resource that provides students with diagnostic assessments and guided instructional lessons to assist them in their reading development. Moreover, teachers can access comprehensive reports on their students’ progress throughout the program, enabling them to provide individualised and precise support.

At the heart of our mission is the belief that every child deserves the basic right to learn how to read. By mastering the skills of comprehension, interpretation, and navigation in a rapidly evolving world, children can thrive in all areas of their lives. We are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that this crucial learning opportunity is accessible to all.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the costs involved and do these vary much from the hard copy texts?

The hard copy texts cost per student is 27 dollars access to only one reading level. The student subscription is $21.95. Each student subscription can access 9 reading levels (AA-H) which is equivalent to the content of nine (9) CARS books and nine (9) STARS books. Going online would save you 5 dollars per student with other teacher benefits such as auto marking. View Pricing and Plans

Is there a minimum subscription a teacher has to purchase?

To use CARS & STARS Online (CSO), you need at least one (1) teacher subscription and one (1) student subscription. It is recommended that you have at least one (1) teacher assigned to a classroom. The teacher subscription also included all the teaching guides as well. Going online would save you 5 dollars per student with other teacher benefits such as auto marking. View Pricing and Plans

I would like my children to use the program at home. Do I need a parent subscription?

Yes, you would need a parent subscription to administer all your children in which every child might be at an instructionally different level. Your parent subscription also includes all the teaching guides along with the answer sheets. Going online would save you 7 dollars per child with other parent benefits such as auto marking and read aloud. View Pricing and Plans

Do students remain on the same level for the year or do they change based on their progress?

Students should remain at the same reading level for the year. However, after reviewing their Pretests, if it is clear that the students are struggling, it is recommended to move them down a level.

Is CARS separate to digital STARS or are they together?

CARS & STARS Online covers both Diagnostics (CARS) and the Instructional (STARS). Both Diagnostics (CARS) and the Instructional (STARS) modules are integrated and available together online.

We use iPads, does CARS & STARS Online integrate well with these devices?

CARS & STARS Online works well with the following devices: laptop, iPad, tablet, desktop PC or smartphone. Before getting started, you need to check that your computer or tablet meets CARS & STARS Online's system requirements. Accessing CARS & STARS Online may not work without meeting these system requirements. For more information, click here.

Can we use a placement test to level students?

Yes, the Placement Centre is integrated onto CARS & STARS Online. The Placement Centre will evaluate the individual students’ comprehension levels and then will place them in the appropriate CARS & STARS level. After the placement, more than one level may be represented within your classroom. The online learning program was designed with this in mind, making it possible to teach multiple levels within the one classroom.

Are the teacher guides and answer key available online?

Yes, the answer key is included in the teacher subscription. Each teacher subscription also includes all the content in the printed informative easy-to-use Teacher Guides - makes every teacher a reading expert!

What is the difference between Teacher and Parent accounts?

If you are using CSO (CARS & STARS Online) at home, you would need to sign up as a parent. If you are using CSO at school, you would need to sign up as a teacher.

Both Teacher and Parent accounts can access the same content for all reading levels. All reading material comes in an interactive format. The Parent account has all the same functionalities as the Teacher account, except for features specifically concerned with schools and classrooms.

The Teacher account allows the teacher to focus on administering students and their performance in the classroom. The main features of a Teacher account include student management; access to student, class & school reports; a complete student activity overview; and student assessment completion notifications.

Is there any limit on how many Student and Teacher accounts I can create during the trial?

There are no limits on how many Teacher and Student accounts your school can create during the trial period. You also have full access to the program, including all reading levels. Each account can access nine (9) reading levels, which is equivalent in printed edition terms to the content of nine (9) CARS books and nine (9) STARS books.

What will happen when the trial ends?

CARS & STARS Online does not offer automatic renewal. You may continue to use CARS & STARS Online by upgrading your trial subscription to a paid subscription.

All your data and progress will be kept safe if you choose to continue with the program, allowing a smooth transition into one of our paid subscription options without the need to re-enter data.

Additional features in the paid subscription include instant complete reporting and information on next steps in instruction outlined in the student summary report. This provides explicit instruction for teachers to improve individual student's reading strategy performance.

Any trial account that is not renewed will be scheduled to be permanently erased.