A
STAAR
Is Born
STAAR
• New assessment program for
– grades 3–8
– high school
• Begins this year
September 2011
Texas Education Agency
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The basics
• For grades 3–8, STAAR tests are in same grades
and subjects as TAKS.
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3–8 mathematics
3–8 reading
4 and 7 writing
5 and 8 science
8 social studies
• For high school, twelve STAAR end-of-course tests
replace ten grade-level tests.
September 2011
3
Texas Education Agency
How did we get here?
• Many choices had to be made
• Numerous avenues to seek advice from the
field were pursued
• Hard decisions were made that honored the
intent of the legislation
4/9/2015
Texas Education Agency
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TEA Choices
•
•
•
•
Assessed curriculum
Rigor of assessment
Performance standards
Testing burden
– Test Development
– Test Administration
– Test Scoring
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TEA Choices
• Assessments for English language learners
• Assessments for students served by special
education
• Measures of student progress
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Legislative Choices:
Non-negotiable realities
• High school course-based testing
• Link between performance on EOC assessments
and course grades
• Testing requirements and cumulative score
requirements for graduation
• Testing schedule
• Review of performance standards
• Collaboration with higher education
• Timeline for implementation
• Reduced funding at state and local levels
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But what is it????
• “Info about STAAR exam slow in coming”
• “The staar is administered about what 6times
a year? Maybe more... I'm not quite sure but I
know its alot.”
• “Texas schools using XXXXXXXX make AYP
because of dramatic improvements on the
STAAR Tests. “
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Texas Education Agency
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Putting some myths to rest
• Lots of misinformation going around
BUT
• Lots of accurate information is also available
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Texas Education Agency
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STAAR Resources Page
4/9/2015
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True or false?
• Districts haven’t seen the
STAAR tests yet.
TRUE
But when have you ever seen the
tests before they’re administered?
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Texas Education Agency
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True or false?
• The sample items released by TEA
are bad items that they didn’t want
to use on real tests.
FALSE
The released items are valid test questions
pulled from the item development that could
have appeared on the STAAR tests.
4/9/2015
Texas Education Agency
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True or false?
• My child passed STAAR.
FALSE
See previous slide. The tests haven’t been
administered yet. Local benchmarks are being
mistaken for the state assessments.
4/9/2015
Texas Education Agency
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True or false?
• Test prep materials have been
proven to increase scores on
STAAR.
FALSE
No product has been shown to increase scores on
STAAR because no scores on STAAR have been reported
yet. The only guaranteed preparation for success is
strong instruction in the required curriculum.
4/9/2015
Texas Education Agency
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True or false?
• TEA is waiting to see how well students do
on the tests before telling us how many
items students have to answer correctly to
pass the tests.
FALSE
Performance standards on the EOC assessments will
be set at the end of February; grades 3-8 standards
will be set in October. Performance standards are
not based on number of items correct.
4/9/2015
Texas Education Agency
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True or false?
• STAAR is going to be really,
really hard.
FALSE
STAAR will be more rigorous than TAKS, but content
is 100% tied to the required curriculum. The state is
not building tests that nobody can pass.
4/9/2015
Texas Education Agency
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True or false?
• The 15% rule will be waived
for the first year of STAAR.
FALSE
This legislative requirement is contained in
§ 39 of the TEC so it cannot be waived.
4/9/2015
Texas Education Agency
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What can I do to feel less anxious?
• You’ve already taken a big step – you’re here
at the assessment conference.
• Numerous sessions have been designed to
provide information to make you feel better
prepared for the STAAR administrations.
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Texas Education Agency
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Analysis and Reporting
• More Z to A: Setting the STAAR Cut Points Tues| 10:15 a.m.
• STAAR Scoring and Reporting - Tues| 1:00 p.m.
• STAAR Answer Documents-What's New Tues| 4:15 p.m.
• STAAR Answer Documents-What's New Wed| 9:30 a.m. [REPEAT]
4/9/2015
Texas Education Agency
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English Language Learners (ELLs)
• Assessing ELLs with STAAR – Tues | 8:30 a.m.
• ELL Assessment Update - Tues| 1:00 p.m.
• TELPAS for Spring 2012: What You Need to Know – Tues |
2:45 p.m.
Mathematics & Science Assessments
• From TAKS to STAAR: Math Test Questions – Mon | 9:10
a.m. (M)
• From TAKS to STAAR: Science Test Questions – Mon |
10:15 a.m. (M)
• TEA Math Update – Mon | 2:45 p.m.
• TEA Science Update – Tues | 10:15 a.m.
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Special Education Assessments
• Accommodations for Students with Disabilities – Mon |
2:45 p.m.
• Introducing STAAR Modified – Mon | 4:15 p.m.
• TAKS-M to STAAR Modified: Changes to the Modified Test
Questions - Part I (Grades 3-8) – Tues | 9:10 a.m. (M)
• TAKS-M to STAAR Modified: Changes to the Modified Test
Questions - Part 2 (High School) – Tues | 10:15 a.m. (M)
• STAAR Alternate Administration Process – Tues | 4:15 p.m.
• Results from STAAR Modified Written Composition Study –
Tues | 4:55 p.m. (M)
• Accommodations for Students with Disabilities – Wed |
9:30 a.m. [REPEAT]
4/9/2015
Texas Education Agency
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Reading, Writing, & ELA Assessments
• STAAR 4 and 7 Writing: Getting Ready for 2012– Mon | 2:45 p.m.
• STAAR English I, II, and III Writing: Getting Students and Teachers
Ready – Tues | 8:30 a.m.
• STAAR Reading: …Connections between Assessment and Instruction
in Grades 3-8 – Tues | 1:00 p.m.
• STAAR English I, II, and III Reading: Getting Students and Teachers
Ready – Tues | 1:00 p.m.
Social Studies Assessments
• STAAR Social Studies: Connecting the New STAAR Test Design with
the New Social Studies Curriculum – Tues | 4:15 p.m.
4/9/2015
Texas Education Agency
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Test Administration
• Technology Strategies for Online Testing – Mon | 4:15 p.m.
• NAEP - Evolving and Changing – Tues | 8:30 a.m.
• Conducting Thorough Investigations Part 1 – Tues |2:45 p.m.
(M)
• Conducting Thorough Investigations Part 2 – Tues |3:25 p.m.
(M)
• Test Security Update – Wed | 8:00 a.m.
Accountability/Performance Reporting
• Dropout, Completion, & Grad Rate Reporting - Mon| 4:15
p.m.
• Update on State/Federal Accountability -Tues| 2:45 p.m.
• AP Participation & Performance - Wed| 8:00 a.m.
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Bottom line
• Change is scary.
• We’ve done this before.
• We all care about the same thing
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The children of Texas
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Choices for reconsideration after initial
implementation
• TEA choices
– Testing calendar
– Time limits
– Accommodations policies
• Legislative non-negotiable realities up
for consideration in 2013 legislative
session
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In closing
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