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

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

• a standardized paper-based assessment (redesigned based on state legislation) administered individually to each eligible student.

• an assessment with individual student responses transcribed into a TestNav online form.

• The admissions, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee determines whether a student with a significant cognitive disability is eligible to take STAAR Alternate 2 based on specific criteria.

• Please review the Educator Guide for STAAR A and STAAR Alternate 2 for additional information on eligibility and participation requirements.

Assessment Window and Tested SubjectsThe STAAR Alternate 2 testing window is February 9–27, 2015. Districts may choose when to administer each subject and grade-level test within the window.

The test will be administered in the following grades and subjects:

STAAR ALTERNATE 2 IMPORTANT DATES9/22/2014 – 10/24/2014 Participation counts window

11/5/2014 – 2/27/2015 • SDU submission window• Registration available

02/20/2015 Deadline to order additional materials 1/9/2015 Materials list posted online

1/19/2015 Test session creation1/23/2015 Materials due in district2/2/2015 Proctor caching available

1/23/15 − 2/9/2015 Preview window2/9/2015 – 2/27/2015 STAAR Alternate 2 Assessment Window

2/10/2015 Transfer date: students entering the district February 10 or later will not be assessed

3/2/2015 – 3/3/2015• Data verification• Test administrators can continue transcribing

student responses

3/6/2015 Return nonscorable materials5/20/2015 Grades 3 – 8 reports due in district6/5/2015 EOC reports due in district

• Six clusters assessing six essence statements comprise a test form resulting in 24 scripted questions per test.

• Each of the 6 essence statements is assessed with 4 items that measure a specific prerequisite skill and are presented together in a cluster.

• The cluster design requires the student to make 6 concept transitions throughout the test.

• The four items per cluster range in difficulty, starting with the easiest item and moving toward the hardest item.

Test Design

• The difficulty of the items is based on the skill being tested, the selected prerequisite skill, and what the student is being asked to do.

• Each student regardless of ability is expected to attempt all questions.• Test materials include a test administration booklet containing the scripted

questions and guidelines for administering the assessment, and a student booklet containing stimulus images and text for presentation of the items and answer options.

Test Design

There are two options for entering student data to the Assessment Management System. Districts may

• upload student data using a file created locally, and/or• enter student data manually.

Texas Assessment Management System Tasks for Testing Coordinators

• Student responses must be entered in an online form in TestNav. This process is identical to that for paper administrations of STAAR L, STAAR A, and TELPAS.

• Information related to the online testing process may be found in the User’s Guide for the Texas Assessment Management System, which can be accessed at: http://www.texasassessment.com/guide

Create Test Sessions

Print Student AuthorizationsStudent authorizations may be printed after students have been placed into a test session.

Test administrators will use the student authorizations to access their students in TestNav.

The student authorizations contain

• the URL that will be entered into a browser by the test administrator to access TestNav

• the unique username and test code needed by the test administrator to log in to transcribe student responses.

Test Administration ProcessReceive Test MaterialsSTAAR Alternate 2 test administrators will be provided with the following materials:

STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator Manual—secure;

Student booklet—secure;

STAAR Alternate 2 Scoring Document—

secure during and after use;

Provides a guide to administering the test, as well as specific instructions for administering each question.

Contains the images for the questions and answer choices presented to the student.

Comprises a single sheet with answer bubbles for recording student responses for later input into the online transcription form in TestNav. This required document must be returned to the campus coordinator.

Test Administrator Qualifications

Who Can Administer STAAR Alternate 2?The STAAR Alternate 2 test administrator

• should be the student’s teacher for the subject being tested

• must have a high level of familiarity with the student so that testing accommodations can be prepared appropriately and the student’s typical response modes can be understood.

Certified and noncertified paraprofessionals who may serve as test administrators or test administrator assistants are

• currently employed by the district

• routinely work with students in the classroom.

Paraprofessionals must be supervised by a certified professional on the same campus throughout the test administration, receive training, and sign the test administrator oath.

Paraprofessionals

The test administrator assistant can provide assistance including:

• preparing allowable accommodations as directed

• manipulating materials during the testing session

• translating or signing information for the student

• managing student behavior.

All test administrator assistants

• must be trained in test security and administration procedures prior to the assessment

• must sign the test administrator’s oath of test security and confidentiality.

Test Administrator Assistants

• STAAR Alternate 2 standardized test administration materials are considered secure. Test security involves accounting for all secure materials and confidential student information before, during, and after the test administration.

• Test administrators for the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment must be aware that they are viewing secure content and that discussing the content of the test at any time is strictly prohibited.

Test Security and Confidentiality

• Test administrators must initial and sign the test administrator oath following training on test security and general testing procedures before handling secure test materials.

• The box titled “For Test Administrators Authorized to View Secure State Assessments” must also be signed, because all test administrators will be viewing the actual test questions in order to prepare allowable accommodations.

• Photocopying of images can be done to apply accommodations if stated in the student’s IEP and if TEA guidelines are followed.

Test Administrator Responsibilities• Maintaining security of test materials preparing test

materials for each administration including accommodations

• Implementing the test administration processes and procedures stated in the manuals

• Monitoring and maintaining test security

Test Administrator Responsibilities• reporting any suspected violation of test security to the

campus coordinator,• transcribing student responses into TestNav, and• preparing test materials for return to the campus

coordinator at the conclusion of test administrations

Preview Test Materials• Once test administrators have been trained on security and confidentiality

and have signed an oath of test security, they need to preview the STAAR Alternate 2 test materials to become familiar with the test and to prepare for any necessary accommodations.

• These materials are considered secure and the campus coordinator must check them out to the test administrator each day during the preview period using the STAAR Alternate 2 Materials Preview Control Form.

• Test administrators may preview the test materials before the beginning of the testing window.

• Accommodations should be prepared during the preview period, but may also be prepared during the testing window.

• At the end of each day, all materials, including photocopied pages from the student booklet, must be returned to the campus testing coordinator.

The test administrator should use the preview period to

• preview the “Guidelines for STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator Instructions” and “Scoring” sections of the test administrator manual to become familiar with the policy for presenting and scoring questions.

• practice reading the script and following the presentation instructions for actual questions while maintaining the secure contents of the assessments.

• review the “Scoring Instructions” for actual questions and plan teacher assistance for specific questions.

• preview the student booklet to plan and prepare accommodations for any student who may need an accommodation according to the guidelines outlined in the “Accommodations” section of the manual.

Preview Test Materials

Plan and Prepare AccommodationsThe accommodations must

• maintain the integrity of the assessment

• avoid leading to or providing the student a direct answer

• be used routinely in instruction

• reflect the student’s learning styles

• allow a student to respond using a mode that is appropriate for the student

Plan and Prepare Accommodations• Accommodations can be made to the two-dimensional images in

the student booklet, the amount of information presented at one time, and the language used in the test administrator instructions.

• Students also need to be given an opportunity to respond to test questions using a mode of response that is typical of the way the student responds during instruction.

• Accommodations also include those changes to the test that allow a student to indicate the answer using the preferred student modality. Examples are provided in the test administrator manual.

Plan and Prepare Accommodations• The test administrator must present the accommodations

uniformly so that the correct answer is not emphasized over the other answer choices.

• Routinely used accommodations for positioning and behavioral supports can be provided for any student to ensure that the student can physically access the stimuli provided and maintain focus throughout the testing session.

• It is appropriate to add language that encourages the student to stay on task.

• It is not appropriate to add language about the content of the question.

• Every attempt must be made to complete the assessment during the window.

• If the assessment cannot be completed within the window, enter the score for the portion of the testing the student was able to complete into the online transcription form in TestNav.

• If a student cannot complete testing within the window due to his or her disability or other administration obstacles, contact TEA for guidance.

• If the district has an extended student holiday during the window, the district may request an alternate testing date from the security team at TEA.

• If a student enrolls in the district on the first day of the assessment window the student must be tested.

• If the student enrolls after the first day of the assessment window the student is not tested.

Texas Assessment Management System Tasks for Test Administrators

Transcribe Student Responses into TestNav• After student authorizations have been printed, student responses can

be added into TestNav. • The test administrator will log in to TestNav using the student’s

authorization ticket and transcribe student responses.• A student’s transcribed responses are automatically scored when the

Final Submit button is clicked at the end of the test. It is not necessary to make a selection in the Score Code menu for student responses to be scored.

Transcribe Student Responses into TestNav• Students taking the STAAR

Alternate 2 administration communicate answers directly to the test administrator.

• The test administrator records the student’s responses on the STAAR Alternate 2 Scoring Document based on scoring information provided for each item.

Transcribe Student Responses into TestNav

Student responses must be transferred from the STAAR Alternate 2 Scoring Document to the online form in TestNav. This process is identical to that of paper administrations of STAAR L, STAAR A, and TELPAS.

Each screen will have one question. On the screen for each question, enter the student response by selecting the appropriate bubble.

Transcribe Student Responses into TestNav

Submit Tests to be Scored

• A student’s transcribed responses are automatically scored when the Final Submit button is clicked at the end of the test. It is not necessary to make a selection in the Score Code menu for tests to be scored.

• If the student was in attendance during the 10-day testing window but was not able to finish the test, the test is scored according to the data that were entered into the system for the sections that were completed.

Enter Score CodesIf a student does not complete the test, one of the following score codes must be selected when marking the student’s test complete.

A = AbsentStudent is absent throughout the testing window. A student should not be marked absent if the student was absent on the testing days but also fits one of the score designations below.

M = Medical ExceptionStudent does not participate in the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment on the basis of the student’s medical condition, as determined by the ARD committee and documented in the student’s IEP. A decision not to assess a student based on a medical exception should be rare.

Enter Score CodesN = No Authentic Academic Response (NAAR) The student is unable to participate meaningfully in the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment on the basis of the student’s disability, resulting in the inability to make an authentic response to stimuli presented in the test booklet, as determined by the ARD committee and documented in the student’s IEP. A decision not to assess a student should be rare.

O = Other Student Not to Be Scored The student experiences a test administration irregularity or illness during testing.

Enter Accommodations Information• Test administrators or other campus personnel will complete the

accommodations information for each assessment after the student responses have been transcribed and submitted through TestNav.

• If a student was provided accommodations, the accommodations must be indicated in the accommodations drop-down menus on the Student Test Details screen.

• On the Student Test Details screen, indicate the accommodations that were used during the assessment by selecting “Yes” from the drop-down menu next to the accommodation.

• If an accommodation was not used, the field should be left in the “No” position.

Test Results

• The standard setting committee will meet in April to make recommendations for cut scores to be approved by the commissioner of education.

• Score reports will include the individual performance level ratings of students, scale scores, and number of questions answered correctly within each reporting category for each of the assessed grades and content areas.

• Score reports are due in district: May 22, 2015 (grades 3 – 8)

June 5, 2015 (EOC)

• Educator Guide for STAAR A and STAAR Alternate 2

• User’s Guide for the Texas Assessment Management System

• 2015 District and Campus Coordinator Manual

• STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator Manuals

• TestNav 7 Combined Technical Guide

• STAAR Alternate 2 Sample Items

• STAAR Alternate 2 Administration Participation Collection (broadcast e-mail)

• STAAR Alternate 2 Medical Exception Eligibility Requirements

• STAAR Alternate 2 No Authentic Academic Response Eligibility Requirements

• Fall TETN Presentation PowerPoint

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/special-ed/staaralt/

Resources

STAAR A

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.

• STAAR A will be the same as STAAR in the following ways: – passing standards– time limits– assessed curriculum – test blueprint– progress measures

• STAAR A will be different than STAAR in the following ways: – no field test questions– online administration– embedded accommodations and accessibility features

• STAAR, with or without allowable or approved accommodations from the accommodation triangle, should be the first consideration.

• If a student cannot access STAAR with or without allowable accommodations, he or she must be receiving the following services in order to consider STAAR A:– students with identified disabilities who are receiving special

education services– students identified with dyslexia or a related disorder (as defined

in Texas Education Code §38.003) who are receiving Section 504 services

STAAR A Eligibility Requirements

• If a student falls into one of these categories, the STAAR A Eligibility Requirements may be reviewed. Additional eligibility criteria found in this document must be met in order for a student to take STAAR A.

• The ARD or Section 504 committee (in conjunction with the LPAC if the student is an ELL) must use TEA’s STAAR A Eligibility Requirements form to document eligibility for STAAR A.

STAAR A Eligibility Requirements

• The appropriate committee must complete the requested information about the student and the role of the person completing the form and then read and agree to certain assurances prior to moving on to Step I.

• STAAR does not best meet the student’s needs.• Classroom accommodations are documented. • Student meets eligibility criteria in Step I and Step II. • Assessment decision is documented.

STAAR A Eligibility Requirements

• Step I: Indicate the services the student receives.

• Step II: The ARD or Section 504 committee must circle the subject(s) for which STAAR A is being considered and check the accommodation(s) the student routinely receives in the classroom for that subject.

STAAR A Eligibility Requirements

• Step II continued: To be eligible to participate in STAAR A in a particular subject, TWO OR MORE accommodation must be checked in that subject.

• If fewer than two accommodations are checked, the student is not eligible to participate in STAAR A in that subject.

STAAR A Eligibility Requirements

Eligible

Not Eligible

• Step III: Summarize Assessment Decision– The committee should indicate the STAAR A tests the

student will take for the school year under consideration.

– Additional testing accommodations may be allowed and must be documented in the student’s paperwork as well.

– A student may take STAAR in some subjects and STAAR A in

other subjects, depending on eligibility.

STAAR A Eligibility Requirements

For detailed information regarding the embedded accommodations and accessibility features, including text-to-speech functionality, please refer to the Educator Guide to STAAR A and STAAR Alternate 2, which can be found on the STAAR A page of the TEA website.

STAAR A Embedded Accommodations and Accessibility Features

• Because STAAR A contains embedded accommodations and accessibility features presented in an online format, replicating these features in a paper or braille version is not always possible.

– Technology-based accommodations enable most students to test online.

– When the use of an accommodation is not feasible or appropriate, or if the administration of an online test is inappropriate due to a student's particular disability, a special request may be made to TEA for approval to administer a paper test booklet. The paper administration request document can be found on the Coordinator Manual Resources web page.

– Braille versions of STAAR A are not available.

Special Situations

• STAAR A is only offered in English.

• For students who are eligible for STAAR A but who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and cannot access the text-to-speech function, a signed administration is allowed for those parts of the test that can be read aloud. – A student does not have to be eligible for an oral administration to receive

a signed administration of STAAR A. – The test administrator should also read the specific guidelines for signing

test content included in the document titled “General Instructions for Administering State Assessments to Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing,” located on the Accommodation for Students With Disabilities webpage.

Special Situations

• For the 2015 administration of STAAR A, it is not necessary for students taking 4th grade STAAR A writing to meet the eligibility criteria for Basic Transcribing.

• This specific group of students may have their writing compositions transcribed into the online form in TestNav in accordance with guidelines listed in the accommodations triangle document for Basic Transcribing.– Note: This is not a requirement of the administration and decisions regarding

this provision must be based on individual student need. TEA will review this policy for subsequent administration years.

• Students in all other grades and subjects must meet the eligibility requirements for Basic Transcribing as described in the corresponding document found in the accommodations triangle.

Grade 4 Writing

• STAAR A score reports will include – individual performance level of students – scale scores– number of questions answered correctly within each reporting category for each of the

assessed grades and content areas

• Grades 3–8– English and Spanish brochures, called Understanding the Confidential Student Report,

explain STAAR A results to parents and are sent to districts with students’ test results and can be accessed online.

• EOC– The explanation of results is included in the student’s Confidential Student Report (CSR).

• Detailed information about STAAR A score reports will be provided in the TEA publication titled Interpreting Assessment Reports, which is updated annually and posted on the TEA Student Assessment Division website.

STAAR A Test Results

• TEA’s STAAR A Resources webpage is located at http://tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/STAARA/

• TEA recommends that teachers become familiar with STAAR A and help guide students through practice selections and test questions until they are comfortable with the STAAR A online testing interface and accommodations. – demonstration video for teachers and test administrators– sample selections and test questions – student tutorials with practice selections and test questions – student tutorial administration directions

STAAR A Resources

• Additional resources to assist educators and parents with STAAR A policy and questions include: – Educator Guide for STAAR A and STAAR Alternate – STAAR A Accommodation Guidelines – STAAR A Eligibility Requirements (English and Spanish) – Introduction to STAAR A: A Guide for Parents – A Parent’s Guide to State Assessments for Students with Disabilities– STAAR A September 24, 2014 TETN PowerPoint– STAAR A Questions and Answers November 17, 2014 TETN PowerPoint

STAAR A Resources

• Other resources available that may be helpful in preparing students to take an online test include: – STAAR Writing Tool (ePAT) includes instructions on how to use

the typing tools for the written composition: http://www.texasassessment.com/training_resources/onlinetesting/

– STAAR L Student Tutorials and Practice Sets to practice using pop-ups and rollovers: http://tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/ell/staarl/

– SOA Student Tutorial to practice using text-to-speech: http://tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/soa/

STAAR A Resources

• Texas Education Agency (TEA)– Phone: (512) 463-9536– Email: staaralt@tea.texas.gov

assessment.studentswithdisabilities@tea.texas.gov

• Pearson’s Austin Operations Center– Phone: (800) 627-0225– Email: TXPearsonAccess@support.pearson.com

Support