2015 ASSESSMENT UPDATES

STAAR A STAAR Alternate 2Changes to Mathematics AssessmentsChanges to Writing Assessments

Students Receiving Instruction Above Grade Level Standardized Oral Administration (SOA)Changes to the 2014–2015 Assessment Calendar

UPDATES

STAAR A is an accommodated version of STAAR for students who meet eligibility requirements. STAAR A will be administered for the first time in spring 2015.

Grade/Course

Subject

3 mathematics and reading

4 mathematics, reading, and writing

5 mathematics, reading, and science

6 mathematics and reading

7 mathematics, reading, and writing

8 mathematics, reading, science, and social studies

EOC Algebra I, English I, English II, biology, and U.S. history

STAAR A will be administered online and will include online tools, embedded accommodations to selections and test questions, and accessibility features.

Tools Embedded Accommodations

Accessibility Features

Answer Eliminator Pop-ups Text-to-Speech

Highlighter Rollovers Zoom

Eraser Blank Graphic Organizers

Color and Contrast

Pencil Writing Checklists Place Marker

Notepad

Dot Tool*

Line Tool*

Ruler*

Calculator*

Reference Materials**These tools are subject-specific and only appear in subject tests where they are relevant.

If students are scheduled for this test need to be very familiar with the online tools before test day. They should be practicing using these online tools with the TEA tutorial at http://texasassessment.com/administrations/STAAR-A/resources/#tutorials

STAAR A will be the same as STAAR in the following ways: passing standardstime limitsassessed curriculum test blueprintprogress measures

STAAR A will be different than STAAR in the following ways: no field test questionsonline administrationembedded accommodations and accessibility features

• an assessment based on alternate academic standards designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities receiving special education services.

• a standardized paper-based administered individually to each eligible student.

• Submitted by the test administrator in an online form.

New performance standards will be set in spring 2015 and results will be reported with other STAAR results.

State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) Alternate 2 is:

MATH Based on revisions to the mathematics TEKS, the STAAR mathematics assessments are changing for grades 3–8 in spring 2015 to align with the revised TEKS. Raw score information will be provided in spring 2015 New performance standards will be approved in summer 2015 Pass/fail information will be provided in late summer 2015 No SSI second or third administration for mathematics in 2015 (SSI will still be in effect for reading)

Graphing calculation devices are now required for all students taking the STAAR grade 8 mathematics test.

For accountability purposes only, the state plans to establish a link between the spring 2015 STAAR grades 3-8 mathematics tests and the previous mathematics tests to determine equivalent performance standards.

WRITING Beginning in spring 2015, field-test prompts will no longer be included in operational STAAR assessments.Students will write two essays on the grades 4 and 7 writing assessments, one on each day.

Students will write one essay on the English I and II assessments.The grade 7 writing assessment has been restructured to parallel grade 4.

The purposes for writing have now been assigned to a particular day for grades 4 and 7.Grade 4: Personal Narrative on Day 1; Expository on Day 2Grade 7: Expository on Day 1; Personal Narrative on Day 2Test design schematics for grades 4 and 7 have been revised to reflect this change.

INSTRUCTION ABOVE GRADE LEVEL• Students should be administered the STAAR assessments that align to the level of

TEKS instruction that they are receiving regardless of their enrolled grade level.

• USDE denied TEAs request for an ESEA flexibility waiver to avoid double-testing accelerated middle school students taking Algebra I.

Meanwhile,

• TEA will continue to eliminate incentives for double testing students for accountability purposes.

• Only the results of the Algebra I assessment will be included in the accountability calculations for the campus and the district where the student tested.

• TEA is considering options regarding testing requirements of these students, accountability, and PBM for this school year. Some options being considered are optional STAAR Algebra II EOC or one of the approved substitute assessments (PSAT, SAT, or ACT math).

MORE TO COME…

See TAA of August 29, 2014 and November 10, 2014

STANDARDIZED ORAL ADMINISTRATION (SOA) Standardized Oral Administration (SOA), an online option for oral administration has been expanded to include Gr. 5 science and Gr. 6 reading and math.

SOA for STAAR in the following grades and subjects:

• Grade 4 reading and math

• Grade 5 science

• Grade 6 reading and math

• Grade 7 reading and math

• Grade 8 science and social studies

RELEASE TEST SCHEDULEDue to the math TEKS revisions, the development of the STAAR A, and the redesign of STAAR Alternate the following release test schedule will be followed.

PROGRESS MEASURES

• Students will not receive a STAAR progress measure for math in grades 4-8.

• A STAAR progress measure will be reported for the first time for grade 7 writing.

• A STAAR progress measure will be reported for eligible STAAR A students who took STAAR or STAAR L in 2013-2014.

• Students will not receive a STAAR Alternate 2 progress measure.

ASSESSMENT CALENDAR• Revisions posted on the TEA website Assessment Calendar of

December 12, 2014

• STAAR Alternate 2 testing window expanded to February 9–27, 2015

• TAKS offered only in October, March, and July and only online

• Grades 5 and 8 mathematics not offered in March

• Administration of STAAR grades 5 and 8 mathematics moved to Monday, April 20, 2015

• Report dates have shifted to May 22, including report dates for grades 5 and 8 mathematics

• STAAR grades 5 and 8 reading scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, 2015

PRINCIPAL’S ROLE IN STATE ASSESSMENT• Be knowledgeable

• Attend training

• Sign and return oath

• Actively participate in the assessment process

• Monitor the process

• Assist when and where needed

• Analyze testing data

• Communicate positively about assessment and results to all stakeholders

ASSESSMENT RESOURCES

TEA Student Assessment Division: http://tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/

STAAR FAQs: http://www.txetests.com/FAQS/index.asp

Assessment Performance Standards: http://tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/staar/performance-standards/

Accountability: http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2015/materials.html

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