What Every Parent Needs To Know About the Transition to STAAR

1. What Every Parent Needs To Know About the Transition to STAAR

2. A new vertical state system Legislation requires a system of performance standards that are linked from grade to grade, starting with postsecondary-readiness performance standards down through grade 3

3. New Test – New Opportunities

4. We have been down this path before! And each time we needed a little time to learn the new system. And each test added a new layer of rigor and a new set of expectations for our students and for our teachers. And each time we have succeeded! And we will again…

5. Let’s look at the tests our kids took before STAAR.

6. TABS Exit Level Math Texas Assessment of Basic Skills 1980 - 1985 • One Step: • Fewest barrels

7. TEAMS Exit Level Math Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills 1986-1990 • Two Steps: • Find point on graph • Multiply • 30 pupils x $300 = $9,000

8. TAAS Exit Level Math Texas Assessment of Academic Skills 1990-2002 • Three Steps: • Find paper • on pie chart • Divide tons of • paper by total • tons: • 72/180 • 3. Convert to 40%

9. TAKS Exit Level Math Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills 2003-2011 • Five Steps: • Add all votes • 240 + 420 + 180 + 300 + 60 = 1,200 • 2. Determine which student finished 3rd • (Bridget: 240 votes) • 3. Determine Bridget’s %age of votes • 240 / 1,200 = 20% • Know that a pie chart has 360 total degrees • Determine 20% of 360 degrees: • .20 x 360 = 72

10. Five Steps: • The student must know how to apply the • quadratic formula to find the value of the • discrimantb²-4ac • Find quadratic equation on formula chart: • If b² - 4ac > 0 • there are two real number roots of the equation • and the graph of the parabola crosses the • x-axis at those roots • If b² - 4ac = 0 • there is a “multiple” or repeated root of the • equation and the vertex of the graph of the • parabola touches the x-axis at that root. • If b² - 4ac < 0 • the roots of the equation are imaginary numbers • and the graph of the parabola does not • intersect the x-axis STAAR Exit Level Math? State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness 2012-?

11. What do we know about STAAR? • Will begin in 2011-12 • Grades 3 through 8 • First year 9th graders • Repeating 9th, 10th and 11th graders will still remain on TAKS through graduation

12. What do we know about STAAR in HS? At the HS, STAAR assessments will be called STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) Exams STAAR will shift the goal from HS Graduation to College and Career Readiness Will impact grades, credits, and graduation

13. Phase-out of TAKS and Phase-in of EOC

14. What tests will students have to take? The high school level STAAR tests are COURSE tests, NOT grade level tests

15. STAAR is an assessment of ACADEMIC READINESS

16. What does it mean to be an assessment of academic readiness?

17. What did TAKS ask? Did our students learn what they were supposed to learn in their current grade or course?

18. What does STAAR ask? • Did our students learn what they were supposed to learn in their current grade or course? • Are they ready for the next grade or course? • And the one after that?

19. And ultimately…ARE OUR STUDENTS READY FOR COLLEGE OR A CAREER?

20. What’s tested on STAAR? • The TEKS - the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills • Readiness standards: • 30-35% of the assessed curriculum / 60-65% of the STAAR test • Supporting standards • 60-65% of the assessed curriculum / 30-35% of the STAAR test • Process Standards – the skills – assessed with other standards (Ex: map skills, math tools, problem-solving)

21. Readiness vs. Supporting

22. What does rigor mean? STAAR will be significantly more “rigorous” than TAKS

23. What does “more rigorous” mean? The questions are more complex and require more thinking. What is most important for a student to learn in a grade level will have more questions on the test. The test will be longer.

24. STAAR is a longer test… • Math Gr. 3 -8 = +6 questions • Reading 3-8 =+4 questions • Writing = +1 additional composition • Science= +4 questions • Social Studies Gr 8 =+4 questions • EOC = +2 to 13 questions

25. STAAR requires more THINKING!

26. Will there really be a difference? TAKS Item – Algebra I A.1(E) – interpret and made decisions, predictions, and critical judgments from functional relationships READINESS

27. Will there really be a difference? STAAR Item – Algebra I A.1(E) – interpret and made decisions, predictions, and critical judgments from functional relationships READINESS

28. Differences TAKS Item – Biology – assessed in 10th grade B.4(B) investigate and identify cellular processes including homeostasis, permeability, energy production, transportation of molecules, disposal of wastes, function of cellular parts, and synthesis of new molecules

29. Differences STAAR Item – Biology – B.4(B)

30. Differences • Biology and World Geography were never assessed in the ninth grade. • More Rigorous Items • Assessing content and skills at a greater depth and higher level of cognitive complexity • Assessing more than one standard in an item • More Rigorous Test • Assessing standards multiple times • Includes a greater number of rigorous items which increases the overall test difficulty • Increased performance standards (higher passing levels)

31. Differences World Geography G.7A Supporting Standard G.21A Process Standard

32. English I Schematic – Day 1

33. English I Schematic – Day 2

34. What will it take to pass STAAR? • Students will have to get more items correct than on TAKS. • The passing standard will first be established for English IIIand Algebra II • Linked to college readiness • Linked by grade level down to 3rd grade

35. STAAR . . . some changes Time limits • All STAAR assessments Grade 3 through EOC will have a four hour time limit

36. What about tests for students served in special education? Accommodations will be allowed on STAAR, but have not yet been defined or clarified. STAAR Modified will be available for students who meet the criteria. STAAR Alternate will be available for students who have significant cognitive disabilities.

37. STAAR Standards Beginning with Freshmen in 2011-2012, the graduation requirement will be STAAR End-of-course

38. Graduation Requirements TAKS • 10 Exams while in HS • 4 stand alone exams • 26 credits STAAR • 15 Exams • 2 stand alone – English III and Algebra II • Cumulative Score in Each Subject (15 exams in 12 contents) • Minimum floors on every exam • In subjects never tested before (Alg II, Physics, WG, Bio, etc.) • Higher rigor, higher standards • Longer tests, 4 hour time limit • Distinguished graduates • Advanced performance on Alg II & English III • 26 credits tied to 15%

39. Cumulative Average STAAR Step 1: Obtain a cumulative passing score or higher (All graduation plans) High school students will earn four cumulative scores -- math, science, English and social studies -- based on their performance on each individual EOC exam. A student’s cumulative score is determined using the student’s highest score on each EOC assessment. To graduate, a student must achieve a cumulative score in each content area equal or greater than the TEA passing standard multiplied by the number of assessments taken. (cumulative score ≥ passing scale score x number of assessments taken)

40. Cumulative – Overview • If the passing standard on each of the three science EOC assessments happens to be set at 1000, then • the student’s cumulative score ≥ 1000 x 3 • the student’s cumulative score ≥ 3000 • For a single EOC score to count toward the student’s cumulative score, a minimum score must be achieved. However, achieving only the minimum score on the EOC assessments will not meet the cumulative passing standard.

41. Cumulative – Overview • Individual Exam: • Possible = 1000 • Passing ≥ 700 • Minimum ≥ 600 • Level III – Advanced ≥ 850 • Cumulative for Math ≥ 2100 • Algebra I • Geometry • Algebra II

42. Cumulative Examples • Student 1: • Algebra - 650 • Geometry – 710 • Algebra II – 690 • Cumulative Total = 2050 NO GRADUATION!

43. Cumulative Examples • Student 2: • Algebra - 590 • Geometry – 750 • Algebra II – 760 • Cumulative Total = 2100 NO GRADUATION!

44. Cumulative Examples • Student 4 – Wants to be a Recommended Graduate: • Algebra - 735 • Geometry – 740 • Algebra II – 695 • Cumulative Total = 2170 Minimum Plan - RETEST

45. Cumulative Examples • Student 4 – Wants to be a Distinguished Graduate: • Algebra - 885 • Geometry – 870 • Algebra II – 835 • Cumulative Total = 2590 GRADUATION! Recommended Plan

46. Legislation Regarding EOC • Texas Education Code 30.023(c) • A school district…shall adopt a policy that requires a student’s performance on an end-of-course assessment instrument in which the student is enrolled to account for 15 percent of the student’s final grade for the course.

47. School Board Policy EIA – When required by state law, a student’s score on the initial end-of-course assessment shall count for 15 percent of the student’s final grade as reported on the student’s transcript

48. Retakes A student may retake an EOC at any time according to the state testing schedule. Students will retake an EOC exam until a minimum score is obtained. Retakes of the EOC will only be applied to the final grade for the first attempt (July) if they allow the student to gain credit for the course.

49. Course Credit *student loses spring credit because final average was not over 70% In courses where students are required to take an EOC exam, students may earn 0.5 credits for any semester where a 70% or higher is earned. However, students must earn a yearly average score (final grade) equal to or greater than 70% in order to earn 1.0 credit for the course:

50. Conversion Model • A conversion model will be developed by school staff. It will likely be on a 100 point scale. • Multiple options are being created across the state • GPISD will finalize and share the conversion model that will be applied when standards are set in February 2012