Knowledge Base

Solution 39817: TEA (Texas Education Agency) Calculator Policy for the TI-83 Plus, TI-84 Plus and TI-Nspire Families of Calculators

What is the TEA (Texas Education Agency) Calculator Policy for the TI-83 Plus, TI-84 Plus and TI-Nspire families of  Calculators?

TEA recently added a clarification to the STAAR Calculator Policy, which  states the following functions must be disabled during testing:
• Geometry functions
• Graphing implicit equations and inequalities
• Graphing inequalities (calculator/application automatically interprets the inequality symbol)
• Functions that automatically calculate the mean absolute deviation

TI graphing calculators can still be used on the STAAR exam! Students may choose to use the embedded TI-84 Plus CE online calculator or a TI calculator they bring with them to the exam – or both! All current TI graphing and scientific models are approved for use on the STAAR exams.

TI-Nspire Family calculators

Geometry functions, graphing implicit equations and inequalities, and graphing inequalities (calculator/application automatically interprets the inequality symbol) can be disabled using the Press-to-Test built into the TI-Nspire family of calculators. For instructions on how to use Press-to-Test, go to Solution 22151: Activating and Disabling Files on a TI-Nspire™ Family Calculator Using the Press-to-Test Feature. You can also download the documents attached to this solution, for your reference.

NOTE: TI-Nspire family calculators do not automatically calculate the mean absolute deviation. This must be done with a list and regression.

TI-84 Plus Family calculators (TI-84 Plus CE, TI-84 Plus, TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition, TI-84 Plus Silver Edition)

To use the TI-84 Plus family of graphing calculators on the STAAR exams, use the built-in Press-to-Test feature to disable all Apps (option 1). For instructions on how to use Press-to-Test, go to Solution 13884: Press-To-Test Functionality Available For TI-84 Plus Family and TI-Nspire™ Handheld in TI-84 Plus Mode Graphing Calculators. You can also download the documents attached to this solution, for your reference.

TI-83 Plus calculator

To use the TI-83 Plus calculator on the STAAR exams, you should delete all Apps. You should back up all of your data using TI Connect Software prior to deleting all data.

To delete all data on the TI-83 Plus calculator, follow these steps:

1. Press [2nd][Mem]to display the MEMORY menu
2. Select 7: Reset to display the RESET menu
3. Press the right arrow twice and select 1: All Memory
4. Select 2: Reset to erase all data and programs. Factory defaults are reset.
5. "Mem cleared" is displayed on the screen to confirm all non-system variables and programs have been deleted

Note: The Finance app is built-in functionality and will remain in place after a reset.

For detailed instructions on how to delete and transfer Apps on the TI-83 Plus, please go  to Solution 23170: Adding or Removing Calculator Software Applications (APPS) on the TI-83 Plus. You can also download the documents attached to this solution, for your reference.

Note: TI-83 Plus and TI-84 Plus family calculators do not automatically calculate the mean absolute deviation. This must be done with a list and regression.

TI-73 / TI-73 Explorer calculator

To use the TI-73 / TI-73 Explorer calculator on the STAAR exams, you should delete all Apps. You should back up all of your data using TI Connect Software prior to deleting all data.

To delete all data and reset the memory on the TI-73 / TI-73 Explorer calculator, follow these steps:

1. Press [2nd][Mem] to display the MEMORY menu
2. Select 4: Delete to display the DELETE: FROM menu
3. Select 8: Apps to display the DELETE: App menu
4. A list of all Apps will be displayed, select each app by pressing ENTER [2]: Yes to confirm. The App will be deleted from memory. Repeat as necessary for each App until all Apps are deleted.
5. Press [2nd][Mem] to display the MEMORY menu
6. Select 7: Reset to erase all data and programs, select 1: All RAM
7. Select 2: Reset "RAM cleared" is displayed on the screen to confirm all non-system variables and programs have been deleted.

TI ExamCalc graphing calculators

The calculators are fully compliant with TEA’s calculator policy.

TEA’s complete Calculator Policy is on the STAAR Mathematics Resources https://tea.texas.gov/  If you have further questions about the functionality of your calculator, please contact TI-CARES or contact your local Educational Technology Consultant..

For questions about using TI-Nspire CX Student computer software instead of a TI calculator for testing, please contact your local Educational Technology Consultant.