2021 STAAR Administration Refresher

Spring 2021STAAR Administration RefresherStudent Assessment DivisionTexas Education Agency

AgendaWELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONSHousekeepingPre-AdminDuring TestingAfter TestingModule-Identified Topics For Further ReviewResourcesQuestionsContact Information2

Welcome and IntroductionsRachel GriffinThis Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

Housekeeping Dialing in for audio is recommended for best sound and quality. All attendees’ lines will be muted during the presentation dueto the number of participants. If a district has a question, they should communicate it to theESC representative. We will have a roll-call for live questionsfrom the ESC representatives at the end of the session.

Pre-Admin

Optional Online Testing Window Extensions and SchedulingSTAAR grade 4 writing, grade 7 writing, English I, andEnglish II have an online testing window extension (April6-May7) but have been assigned designated days withineach week of the extension.After the primary week of any STAARtesting window, tests can be scheduledon Mondays.Districts are allowed to schedule STAAR math, reading,science, and social studies tests on any school day duringthe optional, extended, online testing window.6

Optional Online Testing Window Extensions and Scheduling (cont.)Hybrid Instruction Waiver (posted 2/26)Allows students who are not scheduled to take an assessmentto learn remotely on district-scheduled testing daysCan be applied to students in kindergarten through grade 8For STAAR, limited to 10 days across the April and May STAARadministrations7

Makeup TestingDistricts may offer make-up opportunities for all State of Texas Assessments of AcademicReadiness (STAAR ) tests to students who are absent on the scheduled assessment day.Make-up testing is optional and at the discretion of the district.Can NOT be used to create multiple scheduled testing days for writing tests. All studentsshould be expected to test on the day designated on testing calendar.Q: If we do not have a plan to test during the optional extended online window but discover a studentwho missed the original test date or transfers into the district and needs it, can we test them onlineduring the extended window?A: The district is not required to offer optional makeups outside of their locally established window.However, districts should consider the potential impact of missed test opportunities, specifically forassessments that are required for grade promotion or high school graduation.8

Testing SitesDistricts may set up alternative testing sites other than the home campus as long as the location issupervised by a trained test administrator where the district can ensure equitable access and maintaintest security.Remember that all test administration guidelines MUST still be followed: There must be at least one test administrator forevery 30 students. Sufficient bandwidth must be ensured for all studentswho are testing online. Sufficient time to complete the test must be ensuredfor every student (especially for students receivingextra time accommodations). Answer documents should be grouped under thecorrect Campus and Group Identification Sheets toensure test results are attributed to the home campus.9

Testing Sites Virtual schools and districts offeringlong-distance online learning areresponsible for providing a testingopportunity to all eligible students,regardless of a student’s location. This could mean coordinating with aschool near the student or providing aspace and a trained proctor to administerand handle secure materials.This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BYSA10

Policy CommunicationsQuestions we continue to receive from the field:SSIIGC Regardless of score, retestopportunities will not beprovided A student’s test must bemarked S in order to counttoward IGC eligibility Districts are still responsiblefor providing acceleratedinstruction and supports forstudents that fail to performsatisfactorily on STAAR Being absent during thetesting opportunity due toremote learning will notcount as an attemptSub. Assessments Although a student may use asubstitute assessment tomeet graduationrequirements for a STAAR EOCassessment, the student muststill take (score code “S”) theSTAAR EOC assessment atleast once for the district’sfederal accountabilitycalculations11

Policy CommunicationsStudents Who Received the COVID Waiver for EOCThese students have met the EOC requirement and are no longer eligible to test.It is a testing irregularity (eligibility) if they test.In addition, there is no TSI credit or benefit related to the STAAR Algebra I EOC assessment.12

Policy CommunicationsParticipation and Administration QuestionsYes, school systemsand campuses mustoffer spring 2021state assessments.Yes, the district must provideappropriate acceleratedinstruction as warranted forstudents who are absent orotherwise do not have validassessment results.Yes, districts are requiredto provide acceleratedinstruction to any studentwho does not performsatisfactorily (i.e., achieves“Approaches Grade Level”)on a STAAR assessment.VanessaHelpDeskYes, to meet assessmentgraduation requirements requiredby the state, students must havepassed STAAR end-of-course (EOC)assessments, scored high enoughon a substitute assessment (e.g.,SAT or ACT), or met therequirements of an individualgraduation committee (IGC).13

2020 Forms ReuseReuse of 2020 Materials Some materials that will be used for the spring 2021 administration will contain references to 2020. The content of the materials will be identical regardless of the date that is referenced. Test coordinators and administrators should be made aware in order to avoid confusion.14

Proctor Tickets If a test administrator requires aproctor ticket for an OralAdministration and needs to berouted to a form with PNPs, TTSshould be selected. Proctor ticket logins will berefreshed anytime there is aswitch to secondary form.15

Test Administrator Manual CorrectionsThe electronic versions of all three State ofTexas Assessments of Academic Readiness(STAAR) test administrator manuals have beencorrected to fix mislabeled section headers.There is no impact to the content of themanuals on these pages.

Test Administrator Manual CorrectionsThe electronic version of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness(STAAR ) Grades 6–8 Test Administrator Manual has been corrected to remove theparagraph from the STAAR grade 7 writing online administration directions on page66. The “Typing Assistance” accessibility feature is only available for grade 4 studentswho are taking the STAAR writing test online. It is not available for grade 7 students.

Test Administrator Manual CorrectionsThe electronic version of the State ofTexas Assessments of AcademicReadiness (STAAR ) Grades 6–8 TestAdministrator Manual has beencorrected to fix test dates on page 7.Dates for May grade 8 science and socialstudies paper and online tests werecorrected, and dates for April grade 8mathematics and reading online testswere removed as those tests havemoved to May.

During Testing

Reading Items in Writing TestsSpecific test forms for the May 2021STAAR grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8reading assessments will includeembedded field-test items that assessrevising and editing skills. These fieldtest item types replace the typicalreading field test questions. Theseforms are NOT longer in totalquestion count.Footers have also been added tohelp test administrators andstudents know which type ofpassage they are reading.TEA is recommending that campusesavoid using the forms noted on page3a of the STAAR Oral and SignedAdministrations Educator Guide.20

Accessibility Reminder:Content and Language Supports:New!!Beginning in spring 2021 pre-reads in STAARReading Language Arts tests will only beprovided prior to reading selections andediting passages.21

Saturday Support2021 STAAR SPRING (AND SUMMER) CUSTOMER SUPPORT EXTENDED TO SATURDAYSSunMTWThFSat ETS phone support will be available on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning Saturday, April 10. Phone support will only be available for questions related to Saturday testing. Districts should avoid scheduling administrations of STAAR assessments with a writing component on these days. Saturday testing and support will not be available on Saturday, April 17, because the system is scheduled to be offline. Support will not be available on Saturday, May 29, due to the Memorial Day holiday weekend.22

Test ResetsCertain grade and subject level tests include spiraled online test forms that do notinclude PNP options. Should a student start an online test without PNPs and needto have PNPs added:The previously started test must be reset in order to provide a test form with PNPsavailable.The system will restrict making PNP changes that require a test form change.If you need to make a change to a PNP after a test has been started but arerestricted from doing so, you will need to contact the Texas AssessmentSupport Center for assistance and request a test reset.Note: Test resets will nullify any responses previously provided by a studenton their test.23

Writing prompts during the extended online windowWILL THERE BE DIFFERENT PROMPTS ?Grades 4/7ENG I and IIWe are prepared to transition to areplacement prompt in the event of asecurity breach.Alternate prompts will be activatedthroughout the administration to helpensure test security.24

After Testing

Score CodesCoding considerations for COVID-19 related issues:Score CodesIn-person LearnerDoes not report to testing locationbut is present for instructionO Agency use 0A Med exclusionRemote learnersForced quarantineForced quarantine The medical exclusion designation must reflect the student's situation throughout the testing and makeup window.The district testing coordinator must complete a Medical Exclusion Request form for each student who qualifies. Forms must be submitted by the Friday of the week following the administration of the test. The student's answer document should be marked "A" for Absent.26

Top Module Topics For Further Review

DTC (414)CTC (2,986)Where can parents or students go to register asOOD?What actions need to take placea week before the test?Can OOD students who are not registered to teststill test at a volunteering campus?What are examples of non-scorable materialsthat must be returned?OA (14,464)TA (40,249)How is OA/Signed administrationdelivered online?What is the difference between anaccessibility feature and a designated support?Which parts of the writing test canbe read aloud?What are examples of assistive tools that canbe made available to studentswho regularly use them in class?28

Related Resources District and Campus Coordinator Resources Online Readiness Tool to Check System Speed andCapacity Testing Calendar COVID-19 Support: Student Assessment OOD Administrations Hybrid Instruction Waiver Frequently Asked Questions About CompletingAdministrations/Online Student Records Spring 2021 State Assessment Guidance Test Administrator Manuals (Online Version) Accessibility and Designated Support PolicyDocuments Accessibility Educator Guides STAAR Resources Substitute Assessments - February 2020Communication SSI Waived and Accelerated Instruction - July 2020Communication29

DisclaimerThese slides have been prepared by the Student Assessment Division ofthe Texas Education Agency.If any of the slides are changed for local use, please remove the TEAheader.This training is not intended to replace the review of required manualsand additional information on the TEA website or in the DCCR.30

Contact InformationFor inquiries regarding: STAAR Administration Policy STAAR Accessibility Policy STAAR Online Practice Tests and ToolsContact us:Student Assessment DivisionFor other inquiries related to development andreporting of state assessments: Curriculum Standards and Student Support(512) 463-9581curriculum@tea.texas.gov Performance Reporting(512) ecialpopulations@tea.texas.govStudent Assessment Help DeskTexas Assessment Support 31

The TEA thanks you for participating inthis session!32

After the primary week of any STAAR testing window, tests can be scheduled on Mondays. Optional Online Testing Window Extensions and Scheduling (cont.) 7 . Beginning in spring 2021 pre-reads in STAAR Readin