STAAR Administration Training for Test Administrators

1. STAAR Administration Training for Test Administrators Presented by

2. RULES • TAKE CARE OF PERSONAL NEEDS • KEEP SIDE BAR CONVERSATIONS TO A MINIMUM • NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES • YOU ARE HERE FOR TRAINING! - EMAIL CAN WAIT - TEXTING CAN WAIT - PHONE CALLS CAN WAIT

3. Please Note:This Training Does NOT Take the Place of Reading and Following the Appropriate Manuals.

4. Incidents from Early April Testing • Avoid the following errors: • No Test Administration manual used for directions • Form 1 not used for orals • Test Administrator (TA) did not have test booklet required for STAAR Modified assessment • Seating chart time exceeded 4 hours • Students working on wrong day test • Students cheating by handing off papers while walking to the front of room to pick up “Optional Materials” • Student not provided with accommodation(s)

5. DATES AND TESTSLate April INCLUDES ALL TEST VERSIONS – STAAR, STAAR MODIFIED AND STAAR L (on-line). Remember that students enrolled in an EOC subject tests will not take the grade level test in that subject. Example: 8th grade student in biology will not take the 8th grade science test but will take the biology EOC in May. R – reading tests S – science tests SS – social studies M – math tests

6. DATES AND TESTSMay Grades 5 and 8 only INCLUDES ONLY TEST VERSIONS – STAAR and STAAR MODIFIED. Does not include STAAR L .

7. TIMED TESTS • Refer to TEA time policy • You cannot do a mass start time/stop time • If a test administrator goes over the 4 hours, report it immediately to DTC • Time only stops for the following: • Nurse • Lunch • Emergencies

8. DICTIONARY USE • Refer to TEA Dictionary Policy and the Linguistic Accommodations for ELLs

9. ACCOMMODATIONS Refer to STAAR Accommodations and Optional Test Administration Procedures & Materials • No orals on writing – any student may request writing prompt be read to them • Supplemental Aides – only those approved for spec.ed • Transcription – does not apply to time limit, student must check but cannot make corrections or changes to answers • Spelling Assistance – must meet all requirements • See all others for usage…….

10. TEST VERSIONS • STAAR – most students, accommodations and optional materials apply • STAAR MODIFIED – special education student only, must meet participation and eligibility requirements – test separately as required • STAAR L – on-line, if paper copy required, request now (on-line request form) • Remember STAAR L tutorials must be done prior to test date • Spanish version – instructions must be read separate from English version. Can be in the same room

11. FORM NUMBERS • Oral administrations must use the same form number booklet as the student has or use FORM 1 • STAAR Modified –TA may need a booklet per instructions

12. RESPONSIBILITIES

13. Principal Responsibilities • Ensure security and confidentiality of the tests and materials • Designate CTC • Approve test administrators, logistics and ensure that the testing environment meets the following: • Testing rooms are quiet, well ventilated and comfortable. Students have enough room to work • A “Testing-Do not Disturb” is posted outside each room • Bulletin boards and instructional displays are covered or removed from any location students may pass while testing • All desks used for testing are clear of books and other material not required for the test • Monitors the test administrators • Report any incident to the DTC

14. CTC RESPONSIBILITIES • You are the contact person for all test-related communications at your campus • You are responsible for planning, training and execution of testing • You are required to be familiar with all manuals • You are responsible for accountability of all test material and for the accurate completion of all answer documents • All of this is done with the approval of your principal

15. CTC Responsibilities • Read the coordinator’s manual, the coordinator supplement, the accommodations manual, and the test security supplement • Read the test specific administrator manuals • Attend test coordinator trainings • Receive and manage testing materials • Be responsible for all secure testing materials on your campus • Prepare answer documents for testing • Coordinate all campus testing logistics • Train all test administrators • Establish and monitor testing procedures to insure test security

16. CTC Responsibilities • You and your principal are responsible for test security on your campus • Supervise and actively monitor testing • Verify appropriate score codes, test taken information codes, testing accommodations codes, and all other coding is correct on answer documents • Prepare and return all testing materials to the district test coordinator • Be the campus contact for all questions about testing • Report testing irregularities and security violations immediately to the district test coordinator • Manage the TAMS system on the campus for on-line testing

17. Test Administrator Responsibilities

18. Test Administrator Responsibilities • Read the Test Administrator Manual. • Attend training conducted by your campus test coordinator. • Receive secure testing materials from your campus test coordinator. • Observe all rules regarding test security and confidential integrity of the state testing system. • Read “Guide to the Test Administration Directions” prior to administering any state assessment. • Administer the tests in strict compliance with the directions in the Test Administrator Manuals. • Supervise and actively monitor testing. • Do not provide any unauthorized assistance to students during testing. • Do not view the test, discuss the test, or score a student test either before, during, or after testing.

19. Test Administrator Responsibilities • Complete answer documents in accordance with the manual. • Return all testing materials to the campus test coordinator (CTC) immediately after students finish testing. • As needed help the CTC for on-line administrations of STAAR L. • Report testing irregularities and security violations immediately to the campus test coordinator (CTC). • Prepare statements for submission to DTC if you are involved in a testing irregularity or test security violation.

20. Getting Started • Verify the number of students and the test they are assigned to take (this is the key) • How many rooms are needed based on the number of students to TA (no more than 30 students to one TA), can you isolate the rooms for testing from non-testing students • How many special settings are needed (talk to 504, LPAC and Special Education coordinators) • Have a clear roster on kids that are changing the type of test in the multiple day testing

21. How many TAs and relief personnel are needed • How many on-line STAAR L students do you have and have the computers been checked for TestNav • How will late arrivals be handled (reader/room) • Who’s monitoring the hallways and restrooms • Whose on the phone bank to call for missing students that are testing that day • Timing – lunches, late arrivals • How are make-ups being scheduled

22. Build a strong team • Plan early and for emergencies (shortages, TA absences the day of, extended time testing, new students…) • Hold trainings at different times • Inventory and scan material as soon as you have it (48 hours, email to district with status) • Report shortages ASAP to DTC/staff • Build material control rosters/answer docs • Check demographic • Build/plan for check out/in procedures • Know what has to be done to return material

23. SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

24. Account for all secure materials before, during, and after each test administration • Protect the contents of all tests booklets and student answer documents • No person may view, reveal, or discuss the contents of a test or answer document unless specifically instructed to do so by the procedures in the test administrator manuals • No person providing an oral administration may write notes, calculations, or any other marks in a test booklet or in any other location Security and Confidentiality

25. General Security Information • The following govern test security • Texas Education Code (TEC) • Chapter 39, Subchapter B • Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 19 Subchapter 101, Assessment • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) • Texas Penal Code 37.10 - Tampering

26. Departures from Test Administration Procedures • Incidents resulting in a deviation from documented testing procedures are defined as testing irregularities • Each person participating in the testing program is responsible for reporting immediately to the campus testing coordinator any violation or suspected violation of test security or confidentially, including all testing irregularities

27. Testing Irregularities • Testing irregularities that constitute a disclosure of secure testing materials or altering student results either directly or indirectly are considered serious. • Examples include; • Viewing the test before, during, or after testing unless authorized by the testing procedures. • Scoring student tests. • Discussing secure test content or student responses. • Copying or photographing secure testing materials without permission by TEA • Directly or Indirectly assisting students during testing. • Tampering with student responses on answer documents.

28. Penalties for Prohibited Conduct • Placement of restrictions on the issuance, renewal, or holding of a Texas educator certificate, either indefinitely or for a set term; • Issuance of an inscribed or non-inscribed reprimand; • Suspension of a Texas educator certificate for a set term; or • Revocation or cancellation of a Texas educator certificate without opportunity for reapplication for a set term or permanently. • Possible criminal prosecution under TEC ξ39.0303, Section 552.352 of the Texas Government Code, and Section 37.10 of the Texas Penal Code.

29. If something is going to go wrong, what’s it likely to be? Testing Irregularities

30. Reporting Irregularities Notify the CTC immediately if you become aware of the following types of irregularities: • Eligibility, Timing, Monitoring or Procedural Errors • Cheating • IEP/IAP Implementation Issue • Improper Accounting for Secure Materials Note: Remember on all irregularities you will need to report the who, when, where, what and why. Always keep a log book and document everything.

31. Collecting Documentation • All irregularities require the following documentation to be submitted: • Signed statement(s) from individual(s) involved (typed, printed and signed name and dated)

33. Read the manuals – there are changes from last year Account for all test materials Ensure proper storage of materials Verify accuracy of student information Verify testing requirements for students receiving accommodations . Receive additional training if transcribing or providing an oral administration Before test administration

34. During test administration Ensure each student receives the correct assessment, testing material(s), andbrief students with accommodations prior to the test on their accommodation Actively monitor You may NOT: provide assistance view the tests without authorization discuss confidential student information check for strategies

35. After test administration • No unauthorized viewing (only TEA may permit) • No scoring of student responses • No discussion of confidential student information • No erasing stray marks or darkening response ovals • No copying of students answer documents • YOU CANNOT COPY ESSAYS OR SHORT ANSWERS • Account for all test materials

36. Potential pitfalls to avoid: • Failing to inventory testing materials • Having insufficient test booklets and/or answer documents • Not accounting for all test booklets and answer documents each day • Violate the 4 hour time limit • Test beyond the normal school day

37. More pitfalls to avoid: • Assigning a student the incorrect assessment • Failing to give appropriate accommodation(s) • Improper (or nonexistent) monitoring • Failing to remind students to record their responses and/or failing to verify that students have bubbled their answers in on the answer document (only the TA can do this) • Allowing a student to continue bubbling after the 4 hours has elapsed • Leaving secure materials unattended • Stopping an on-line session prior to removing absent students (STAAR L only)

38. Answer Documents • Refer to: • STAAR 3-5 Manual page 34 • STAAR 6-8 Manual page 35 • See your packet of answer documents

39. TA is responsible for answer document coding Booklet number Above grade level If above grade level, score code “O” Form number Score code and accommodations Score code “*” if a test was STAAR L or Modified

40. Answer Documents Student took a modified version of test or a STAAR L version

41. Linguistic Accommodations—LA ColumnSTAAR and STAAR Spanishall use same answer document Know the policies! • STAAR Spanish: No ling. accommodations everto be marked

42. Answer Document Coding • In the “LA” (linguistic accommodations) column, mark the linguistic accommodations that were predetermined and documented by the LPAC(even if a student does not use all the accommodations)

43. ACCOMMODATIONS • Optional Testing Procedures and Materials • NOT INTENDED FOR EVERY STUDENT • GIVEN BASED ON PRIOR USAGE AND STUDENT NEED • Available at the front of the room, student must ask for • Scratch paper must be controlled and logged on the seating chart. • Note: Student must ask unless documented on IAP/IEP. • Not reported on answer document

44. Eligibility for STAAR Spanish and STAAR L

45. Planning for Test Administrations –STAAR L • Ensure that there is one pair of headphones per student for administrations of STAAR L in which multiple students are tested in the same room (STAAR L online interface allows students to hear words read aloud) • As an option, students may bring their own headphones from home • Keep in mind that students taking STAAR L online may be eligible to use a bilingual dictionary and/or receive extra time

46. ELL Participation in General STAAR Assessment • Taken by ELLs and other students not administered STAAR Spanish, STAAR L, STAAR Modified, or STAAR Alternate • Remember: • STAAR L on-line is for mathematics, science, and social studies. No STAAR L version for reading and writing • STAAR Spanish is for grades 3–5 only • Linguistic accommodations beyond testing in native language not permitted for STAAR Spanish • ELLs taking general STAAR assessments permitted some linguistic accommodations

47. ELLs with Parental DenialsTAC §101.1005 (f) Reminder: These students are not eligible for special ELL assessment, accommodation, or accountability provisions • No testing in Spanish • No linguistic accommodations during testing ELLs with parental denials may, however, use bilingual, ESL, or other allowable dictionaries as part of dictionary policy for STAAR reading and writing tests in grade 6 and up; under this policy, use of dictionaries not considered linguistic accommodation

48. HOMEBOUND • A homebound student needs to be tested on the day of the test • If they, as with any student, start the test and then cannot complete, code as an “other” and complete the paper in your folder • If they are too sick to test, code as an absent

49. Campus Input to Training • Remember to always cover the following items • School specific plans • Testing Rooms • Cell phone – not used by students or staff • Covering material on walls (includes all hallways, library, cafeteria, etc…) • Time tests and lunches • Check in and out procedures • What’s allowable after testing with the students or are the students being sent to another room? • Who’s watching the hallway and restroom (remember that there is no work/grading etc in hallways)? • Seating charts - name, ID, date, test, time start/stopped, administrator’s name, campus, district, and signature • Oral test administrator must have a separate training - see appendix

50. DOCUMENTATION