STAAR ALT 2 CTC Training

Presented By: Sam Lopez & Dina Cruz

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Sign- In

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Important Documents and Links

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• STAAR ALT 2 Participation Requirements TEA
• Instructional Decision Making Guides TEA
• STAAR Alt 2 Preliminary List-All Regions (Add additional students are the bottom of the Master list)
• STAAR ALT 2 KTX Testing Dates Tracker/Schedule (Campus Specific Dates)
• STAAR Alternate 2 Companion Document
• STAAR Alt 2 Educator Guide
• STAAR Alt 2 Planning Sheet-OPTIONAL
• STAAR Alternate 2 Resources (TEA)
• STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator Manual
• STAAR ALT 2 Materials Control

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Please return at 1:50

We will check the thought & question tracker document upon returning.

Disclaimer

This training does NOT replace

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your requirement of reading the

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appropriate manuals.

STAAR Alt 2 Manual

TOPICS

• STAAR Alt 2 Overview & Participation Requirements
• Test Security
• Test Administrator Criteria & Responsibilities
• Testing Materials
• Test Design
• Administering STAAR Alt

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STAAR Alt 2 Overview

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Participation & Eligibility p. 6

• Students determined eligible by their admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee are required to participate in STAAR Alternate 2.
• Eligible students are required to participate in STAAR Alternate 2 if they
• move within the district at anytime, including after the first day of the STAAR Alternate 2 testing window, or
• enroll in a new district after the first day of the STAAR Alternate 2 testing window.
• If the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee determines that a student in grades 3–12 meets eligibility criteria for STAAR Alternate 2 and also qualifies for “No Authentic Academic Response” or a “Medical Exception,” the student will not be required to participate in the administration of STAAR Alternate 2.

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Who takes STAAR Alt 2?

A student with significant cognitive disability:

• Exhibits significant intellectual and adaptive behavior deficits in their ability to plan, comprehend, and reason, and ALSO indicates adaptive behavior deficits that limit their ability to apply social and practical skills such as personal care, social problem-solving skills, dressing, eating, using money, and other functional skills across life domains;
• Is NOT identified based on English learner designation or solely based on previous slow academic achievement or the need for accommodations; and
• Requires extensive, direct, individualized instruction, as well as a need for substantial support that are neither temporary nor specific to a particular content area

Deadlines & Student Transfers

• KTX deadline to ID all students enrolled in a KIPP Texas school is March 25th
• Campuses should be prioritizing any student who is a potential candidate for STAAR Alt 2
• Ensure that ARD is finalized by 3/25/24
• Current List of Students:
• STAAR Alt 2 Preliminary List-All Regions
• Student Transfers
• There is not a set deadline for transfers
• Any student who qualifies for STAAR Alt 2 and transfers within the window, you are responsible for administering the STAAR Alt 2 assessments
• Reach out to previous schools to see if any assessments have already been completed
• Complete any missing assessments
• Special pops lead should be abreast of any new enrollments that may qualify for STAAR Alt 2

Assessment Decisions: Participation Requirements

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• The assessment decision and accommodations needed to measure the student’s academic achievement must be documented in the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

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• The student will take STAAR Alternate 2 for ALL required STAAR subjects or enrolled end of course (EOC) assessments.

• STAAR Alternate 2 Participation Requirements
• STAAR Alternate 2 Companion Document
• STAAR Alt 2 Educator Guide

SPED completes form at annual/revision ARD

Doc. in ESped Deadline 3/25

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Grade & Subjects

Note: Test are administered during STAAR Alt 2 window - different than rest of tests

Note: 8th Grade students don’t qualify for Alg 1!!!

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Key Dates

STAAR Alt 2 Coordinator Responsibilities (CTC)

• Serve as a liaison between DTC/RAC and Test Administrators
• Monitor and maintain test security
• Train test administrators and campus leadership (Test Security Only!!!)
• Inventory material, order material (if needed), store material
• Prepare and distribute test materials (manuals and secure material)
• Make a “secure” folder for each student/teacher.
• Verify data in Cambium and create online test sessions.
• Manage students who enroll and withdraw
• Prepare test materials for return to DTC and Cambium

Note: Test Administrators may not serve as campus testing coordinators!!!

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Test Materials

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Test Materials p. 8

• Secure Test Instructions
• Student Test Booklet
• Set of Image Cards- optional use unless accommodation is required in IEP.
• Scoring Document
• STAAR ALT 2 Manual

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Test Materials

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• Test Administrator Manual - Grades 3-8 & EOC (online & non-secure)
• One teacher booklet Teacher Test Booklet (secure)
• One student booklet (secure)
• One set of image cards per student (bundled) (secure)
• Scoring documents (secure -when filled)
• STAAR Alternate 2 scoring document can be found in the back section of each test administrator manual, and under “Support” in Pearson Access Next.

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Non secure

All Secure Materials

Test Administrator Manual

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• Contains instructions that explain the responsibilities of test administrators & CTC
• Contains General STAAR Alt 2 Testing information
• Covers Test Security & Confidentiality
• Contains Assessment timeline & scheduling
• Covers Understanding Test Questions, Presentation Instructions, Scoring, and Accommodations
• Only available online & non secure materials

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Non-secure

Teacher Test Booklet

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• Contains instructions that explain the responsibilities of test administrators.
• Contains scripted questions and guidelines for how to administer the test and score each item.
• Test Administrator will use this booklet along with the student test booklet.
• TA may check this out during preview week.
• Considered secure material.

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Secure Test Material

Portrait

Student Test Booklet

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• Contains student questions, answer choices, and visual images.
• Test Administrator will use this student test booklet along with the Teacher test booklet & image cards.
• TA may check this out during preview week.
• Considered secure material.

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Secure Test Material

Landscape

Image Card Sets

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Secure Materials

Image Card Sets

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• STAAR Alternate 2 must be administered with the student booklet. 
• Image cards are optional.
• A test administrator may use image cards for multiple students:
• NO appearance of reuse whatsoever - no accommodations applied (e.g. highlighting, coloring, cropping, etc.)
• Examples of ways “clean” image cards may be used for multiple students 
• Pairing with text
• Presenting answer choices one at a time

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Image Card Sets

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• Test administrators should utilize image cards in the same way they previously accommodated the student booklet page.
• EXAMPLES of accommodations that image cards may replace:
• Photocopying and then cutting apart answer choices in order to present answer choices one at a time
• Photocopying and then cutting out an image to pair with text
• Other accommodations that required photocopying and then making a “card” to assist with test administration
• Image cards have a number stamp on the back to correspond with test items.
• On rare occasions, test items do not have an accompanying image card due to nature of the stimulus.

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Scoring Document

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• 2023–2024 STAAR Alternate 2 Scoring Documents will be specific by subject.

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• All RLA assessments will have 28 questions, and the remaining subjects will have 24 questions.

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• Scoring documents are a separate document and no longer included in the Teacher Test Booklet
• Scoring LInk - will need to print
• Math, Sci, SS
• ELAR

Change - 2 Scoring Docs

Will need to print out

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Math, Sci, SS

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ELAR

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Test Security

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Test Security p. 8

• Within 24 hours of receiving secure test material, it must be scanned into Test Hound. Please work with your STAAR CTC on scanning all material into the system.
• All photocopies or reproductions of secure STAAR Alternate 2 test materials must be collected and returned to Pearson.
• STAAR Alternate 2 Teacher test booklet, student booklets, image cards, answer documents, photocopies of stimuli and scoring documents must be kept in secure, limited-access, locked storage when not in use.
• Do not discuss, show or share any secure test content in the secure test administrator manuals, student books and image cards including but not limited to other test administrators, special education directors, school administrators, diagnosticians, parents, peers or test coordinators.

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Additional details will be provided during materials pick-up training

Test administrators and assistants must be aware that they are viewing secure content when working with STAAR Alternate 2 materials and that discussing the content of the test at any time is strictly prohibited.

Note: REMEMBER

No ONE may discuss test content, student responses or scoring information before, during, or after a test administration.

Oaths of Test Security and Photocopying

Preview Testing Window

Security Procedures

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• All test materials will be kept in an envelope.
• There is one envelope per subject and student.
• Test materials must be kept in locked, secure storage throughout the day when not in use.
• Test materials (including photocopied pages from the student booklet) must be returned to the campus coordinator at the end of each day and be checked in and out using the Materials Control Form.
• These test materials must be kept in a locked, secure storage area until the materials are checked out again.

Test administrators and test administrator assistants need to preview the STAAR Alternate 2 materials to become familiar with the test and to prepare any necessary accommodations.

Test administrators and test administrator assistants should use the preview period to:

• practice reading the script and following the “Presentation Instructions” for each item.
• Review the Scoring Instructions for test questions and plan teacher assistance for items 2 and 3 in each cluster
• Review the student booklet and image cards to plan and prepare accommodations for any student who may need an accommodation according to the guidelines outlined in the “Accommodations” section of the test administrator manual.
• Any presentation of materials or introduction of concepts or topics to a student prior to the administration of the test is considered a serious irregularity and should be reported as such.

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Preview Testing Window

Will need to sign out & in materials daily

Considered Secure material.

Untimed assessment and does not have to be given in one session.

Some timing options include the following:

• administering the assessment at a time that is most appropriate for a student
• allowing breaks, as necessary
• administering the test over several days, several sessions per day
• administering the test over several days, one session each day

Test questions must be administered in the order they appear in the student test booklet.

Questions are best tested with the entire four-question cluster intact, one cluster at a time. However, frequent breaks between questions within a cluster are allowed and necessary for some students.

IMPORTANT! Students are not allowed to go back to a previously answered question

STAAR ALT 2 Testing Window p.27

Master Materials Form

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• Under reports in TestHound, you can print out the Master Materials (Print Daily!!!)
• You can choose to print one new report for each day
• Or you can print one report and add a chart for the different days it’s being used
• You will turn these end when STAAR Alt 2 is completed

Required for Preview Window

STAAR Alt 2 Planning Document

STAAR Alt 2 Planning Sheet-OPTIONAL

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• Document designed to help you plan for the 24 days of testing
• Count the number of students & tests you have
• Factor in STAAR Testing & TELPAS
• All tests must be completed during this window
• 3-8 Math & Reading
• 5/8 Science
• 8 Social Studies
• EOC – Alg. 1, Bio, Eng. I & II, and US Hist.
• Optional - to help you plan

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KIPP Texas STAAR Alt 2 Testing Calendar

• Deadline EOD Friday 3/15 to enter your testing dates

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• Document will ensure that all students are tested and key stakeholders will know when

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• Possible to test more than 1 student each day but at separate times

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• Link - STAAR Alt 2 KTX Testing Schedule

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Collaborate with SPED Leads on campus calendar

Material Control Form

• Ensure that you make a copy of the document HERE, input the appropriate information in the columns e.g., written or typed, print the document, and affix it to the provided envelope:

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• Date
• Sign-In & Out (Written Initials)
• Serial & Form #’s

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• Remember that you must keep track of the start & stop time for the session

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• These documents must be scanned and placed into the campus file folders

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• TEA Required

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Scoring Document

• You must complete one for each subject administered for a student
• Example - 7th Student
• Roy J - Math
• Roy J - Reading
• Roy J - Writing
• Must include all the accommodations offered whether they were used or not
• CTC and/or TA will use the scoring document to transcribe answers into Cambium DEI
• Will return all scoring documents with Teacher Test TB, Student Test Booklet, & Image Cards
• Considered secure test material once student name is added to it

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Please ensure to complete all the info (Including Form #)

Accom.

Make-up Tests p. 7

• Make-up tests may be offered throughout the testing window while maintaining test security.
• If a student becomes sick or must leave the campus during the test, then the test can be completed when the student returns as long as it’s within the scheduled administration dates.
• Please contact the DTC if student is unable to complete STAAR ALT assessment. The DTC will contact TEA Student Assessment for additional guidance.

Accommodations p. 13

Accommodations may only be used if they are routinely provided in classroom instruction and listed in the student’s individualized education program (IEP). Accommodations provided during classroom instruction and testing may differ from accommodations allowed for use on statewide assessments.

The following guidelines describe the appropriate use of testing accommodations.

■ Accommodations must be determined and prepared before the test session begins.

■ The test administrator must present the accommodations uniformly so that the correct answer is not emphasized over the other answer choices. If an accommodation (e.g., color overlays, picture representations) is used on one answer choice, it must be used on all answer choices.

■ The student may need different accommodations for different questions within a tested subject.

■ 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 that changes the content of the test stimulus.

Allowable Accommodations p. 13

Photocopying p. 14

Many of the techniques used to make images more accessible require methods that might distort the images on the next page of the student test booklet. In these instances, photocopying of the student test booklet may be required.

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Adhere to these guidelines when photocopying the student test booklet.

■ The student test booklet cannot be disassembled.

■ The district must maintain test security and confidentiality when photocopying the student test booklet.

■ Photocopying must be done within the district by a trained test administrator or test administrator assistant who has signed the appropriate test security oath.

■ If a mathematics test is photocopied but not enlarged, the copier must be set to copy at 100 percent and the scaling option set to “no scaling” or “zero” to ensure that graphics retain the intended measurement.

■ The memory on the copier must be cleared after photocopying student test booklets.

■ All photocopied pages of the student test booklet must be returned with the non scorable shipment after testing.

Student Response Modes p. 24

Assistive technology that is documented in the student’s IEP and is used routinely in instruction may be used to provide the student access to the assessment. Technology should be used primarily for communicating an answer by the student or presenting answer choices by the test administrator. Because the assessment is secure, the use of some devices is not allowable.

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Instances when a device or procedure would not be allowed include the following:

• tablets or computers with Internet access that cannot be disabled
• inputting answer choices into a device that has stored memory that cannot be erased

Assistive Technology p. 14-15

�Test Security

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Confidentiality

P. 8-12

Prepare the Testing Environment

Test sessions must be conducted under the best possible conditions with minimal distractions and in a setting that is arranged in the most appropriate way for individual students.

Some options include

• administering the test in a separate location,
• providing adaptive or special furniture, and
• providing special acoustics.

To support test security and standard assessment practices, STAAR Alternate 2 administrations require that

• no element of the testing room environment should hinder any student’s performance,
• a “Testing—Do Not Disturb” sign should be posted outside the testing room,
• an instructional environment should be maintained during testing windows (It is not necessary to conceal or remove instructional or reference materials in the testing area, classrooms, or hallways unless they could provide a direct source of answers for the subject-area assessment being administered.),
• all desks used for testing must be cleared of books and other materials not required for the test, and
• test administrators must prevent students who are not part of the current testing session from hearing or viewing another student’s test administration. The test administrator will determine the most appropriate seating arrangement based on individual student needs.

Secure Materials p. 8

• test booklets,
• completed scoring document,
• online session IDs, and
• STAAR Alternate 2 image cards.

All testing personnel who handle test materials should be aware that the materials may contain secure test content and that any viewing, discussing, or recording of this confidential information is strictly prohibited.

Test administrators who have permission to view secure content in order to provide an approved designated support or as part of the program-specific test administration process must be reminded that responding to test questions, recording the information they see, scoring a test, or discussing the content of a test at any time is strictly prohibited.

Types of Testing Irregularities

Serious

Procedural

Conduct that violates the security and confidentiality of a test.

Could result in:

• Invalidating student test results
• TEA investigation and referral to SBEC
• Restrictions placed on certification
• Issuance of an inscribed or non-inscribed reprimand
• Suspension of certificate
• Revocation or cancellation
• Lower district accreditation status

• Less severe and more common.
• Minor deviations in testing procedures

Types:

• Accommodation Errors
• Accounting Errors
• Eligibility Errors
• Monitoring Errors
• Training Errors

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Any incidents involving alleged or suspected testing irregularities falling under the category of a serious violation must be reported to TEA’s Student Assessment Division as soon as the district testing coordinator is made aware of the situation. Testing personnel should contact TEA if they are unsure whether an irregularity has occurred or if they are unclear regarding what constitutes a serious violation.

KTX Incident Report Form

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Test Administrators & Responsibilities

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Who Can Administer STAAR Alternate 2?

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The STAAR Alternate 2 test administrator:

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• should be the student’s teacher for the subject being tested, and
• 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.
• Paraprofessionals may serve as test administrators supervised by a certified professional on the same campus throughout the administration. (See other options in the District and Campus Coordinator Resources.)
• Paraprofessionals may serve as test administrator assistants and assist in preparation of the test IF they are trained in test administration procedures and sign the oath. 

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Paraprofessionals

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

• currently employed by the district, and
• routinely work with students in the classroom.

Paraprofessionals must be supervised by a certified professional on the same campus throughout the test administration.

Testing Administrator Oath

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• All users with access to the Cambium platform must complete the training on security and general testing procedures as assigned in Cornerstone and sign the Oath of Test Security and Confidentiality. These actions must occur prior to receiving Cambium access, handling secure test materials, or viewing confidential student results. Participants that have completed training and requested accounts are located HERE.

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• This oath must be signed prior to handling any testing materials ( before preview window & actual test administration window). Completed oaths information is located HERE.

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STAAR Alt 2 Test Administrator Responsibilities

• Maintaining security of test materials while in their possession
• Preparing test materials for each administration
• Implementing the test administration processes and procedures stated in the manuals
• Monitoring and maintaining test security
• Reporting any suspected violation of test security to the campus coordinator
• Transcribing student responses into Cambium (can also be done by other designated individuals)
• Preparing test materials for return to the campus coordinator at the conclusion of test administrations.

Note: Test Administrators may not serve as campus testing coordinators!!!

STAAR Alt 2 Test Administrator Assistants

The test administrator assistant can provide assistance including:

• preparing allowable accommodations
• manipulating materials during the testing session
• translating or signing information for the student
• managing student behavior

Note: Test Administrators may not serve as campus testing coordinators!!!

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.

Testing Administrator Training

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Key Dates

Summary

• STAAR Alt 2 has qualification requirements
• Students qualify for all subjects
• Key dates and deadlines
• Test must be administered following script contained in Teacher Test Booklet
• Preview Window - designed to help test administrators plan for test administration
• Testing window is 4 weeks long
• Secure include - Teacher Test Booklet, Student Test Booklet, Image Cards, & Scoring Document
• Must follow STAAR Procedures & Test Security
• All subjects and students must be tested during STAAR Alt 2 window
• Test Hound must be used during STAAR Alt 2 Preview & Testing Window
• Specific Training requirements for Test administrators

Stop the Recording!

EB

Thanks!

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STAAR Alt 2

Administration Specifics

Administration of STAAR ALT 2 Test

P. 19-29

First Question in a Cluster: Replicating the Presentation Instructions

• If the student is not able to find the correct answer, the test administrator is directed to remove the stimulus, wait at least five seconds, and then repeat the initial presentation instructions for reduced credit.

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• The test administrator should replicate the initial presentation instructions by repeating the original presentation instructions, direct statements, communicate statements, and find statements in the same way they initially were presented to the student.

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• No other assistance is allowed, because the answer is provided and modeled during the presentation.

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Second Question in a Cluster: Modeling the Desired Student Action

• If the student is not able to find the correct answer after the initial presentation, the test administrator is directed to model the desired student action using the most likely way the student might respond, communicate the correct answer as stated in the test administrator action, and repeat the initial presentation instructions.

Third Question in a Cluster: Providing a Teacher Assist

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• If the student is not able to find the correct answer after the initial presentation, the test administrator must select one of the provided allowable teacher assists before repeating the presentation instructions.
• The test administrator may choose only one assist; therefore, the assist that is chosen should be one that the test administrator feels would be most helpful to the student and was not provided as an accommodation during the initial presentation.
• Test administrators can only provide an assist that is specifically listed on the individual question. Since each question has options that are unique to the question type, it is important that the teacher read the options carefully.
• The allowable teacher assist will specify if the student must perform the action or if the student or test administrator may perform the assist. If not specifically stated, the action may be performed by the student or the test administrator.
• Assists that begin with a verb may be performed by either the student or the test administrator.
• The direction to highlight may be performed by the test administrator or the student. Make sure that the method used to highlight does not interfere with the stimulus information on the back of the page or lead the student to the correct answer.

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Fourth Question in a Cluster: Replicating the Presentation Instructions

• If the student is not able to provide the correct answer after the initial presentation, the initial presentation instructions must be repeated.
• No other assistance is allowed, because the student must apply the information on his or her own to answer the question.

Recording Student �Scoring Information p. 28-29

• Use scoring document provided which has 24 spaces for answers.
• Once the assessment is completed and information is recorded, the district coordinator, campus coordinator, or other authorized personnel will enter scoring information into the Data Entry Interface (DEI). After the scoring information has been entered, the STAAR Alternate 2 Scoring Document should be returned to the campus coordinator.

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Test Presentation

P. 21-25

Presentation instructions provide information about how to direct the student to the stimuli in the student test booklet and what should be presented and communicated to the student. The boldfaced statements in all question types are to be communicated to the student as written. The boldfaced statements can be signed, translated into a language other than English, provided in written form, or paired with tactile or picture symbols. The boldfaced statements should be communicated to the student in the language and format the student requires in daily instruction. Text that is not printed in bold type should not be communicated to the student. Information about how to present, direct, and communicate with students to provide for the most meaningful communication during the testing session can be found in the “Presentation Instructions” section of this manual.

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Stimulus visuals show how the stimulus in the student test booklet is displayed for the student. Information about how the stimulus visuals can be accommodated is described in the “Accommodations” section of this manual.

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Scoring instructions describe how the test administrator is to evaluate and mark the student’s score using A, B, or C. If the student does not correctly answer a question the first time it is presented, the scoring instructions explain what assistance is allowed. Further information is described in the “Scoring” section of this manual.

“Find” Statements

The word “find” for the last bullet in the test administrator instructions can be replaced with “show me,” “point to,” “touch,” or “tell me,” depending on the needs of a student.

TA Manual p. 21

Example: “Find the circle can become “Where is the circle?”

Repeating Reading Passages p.27-28

Test administrators have the option of starting a reading passage over and repeating the text from earlier questions in a cluster if they feel that the student needs to hear the previous sections of the passage before finding what is requested. To accomplish this, the test administrator may

• turn back to previous questions in the cluster and read the sections for the student from the secure test instructions or
• photocopy previous sections of the text to combine with the next section of the passage as the student proceeds through the cluster.

Returning to Previous Questions p. 27

Although the reading passages can be read or photocopied to be used in presenting other questions in the cluster, no other information from previous questions may be used during the test administration. Students cannot request to go back to previous test questions in the student test booklet and change their answer after the question has been scored and the student has moved on to the next question.

Scoring Instructions p. 25 & 28

The test administrator must refer to the scoring instructions for each question to determine how to proceed once the student has responded to the “find” statement. Each question has a unique set of scoring instructions. Test administrators should preview the scoring instructions for each question before the test is administered to become familiar with what is expected from the student and what assistance is available if the student does not indicate the correct answer.

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An asterisk (*) next to a section on the stimulus image or a boxed answer choice indicates the correct answer. The asterisk only appears in the secure test instructions. The test administrator should not place the secure test instructions in the student’s line of sight during testing because the correct answer is indicated. Additionally, other students in the room during testing cannot be exposed to the content of the test questions.

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Student Response Modes p. 24

Completing Test Administration p. 29

1. Enter student responses online in DEI system.
1. Score Codes- A= Absent, M= Medical Exemption, N-No Authentic Academic Response (NAAR), O= Other- Test Not to be Scored.
2. Indicating Translated Student Content- yes or no
2. Enter Accommodations information (Use IEP to verify.)
3. Inventory & Return Test Materials to DTC.
1. Return the following materials to your campus coordinator:
• used and unused secure test instructions
• used and unused student test booklets, including large-print test booklets
• used and unused image cards
• STAAR Alternate 2 Scoring Documents
• photocopies or any other type of reproduction of secure test materials, if used

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Additional Training: Learning Management System

STAAR Alternate 2 Resources