Slide 1

L.I.S.D. Staff Development State of Texas Assessments ofAcademicReadiness1August 2011

WELCOME

Share what you know about STAAR2We dont have time to do EVERYTHINGwe do have time to do things right!

STAAR matches good teaching/instruction/assessment/questioning strategies to promote good learning! It will help reclaim the joy of teaching!

2What do we know about STAAR?

Will begin in 2011-12Grades 3 through 8First year 9th graders

Will be significantly more rigorous than TAKS

Will measure student performance AND academic readiness

Grade 3-8 STAAR tests in Reading and Math will be linked (from grade to grade) to performance expectations forEnglish III STAAR andAlgebra II STAAR3

Keep in mind . . .

weve been walking this path for a while!4

TAASTABSTEAMSTAKS[SDAA/LDAA]TAKS(Acc/M/Alt)Music Clip: The Long and Winding Road The Beatles

The test is changing b/c kids are topping out on the rigor of the test.4

Episode V The Birth of STAAR

After nearly 30 years of state testing,Texas announces the Next Generation of tests.Beginning in 2011-12 TAKS(the descendant of TABS, TEAMS and TAAS)will be replaced with STAAR(the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness).STAAR will be significantly morerigorous than TAKS.

Music Clip Theme from Star Wars John Williams

5What does STAAR include?

12 end-of-course assessmentsMandated by SB 1031 in 2007

Grade 3-8 assessments (replacing TAKS)Mandated by HB 3 in 20096

We will not have scores for this years test until the following school year.6The tests..Grades 3-8Reading Gr. 3-8Math Gr. 3-8Writing Gr. 4 & 7Science Gr. 5 & 8Soc. Studies Gr. 87

High SchoolMathEnglishScienceSoc StudiesAlgebra IGeometry Algebra IIEng IEngl IIEng III

BiologyChemistryPhysics

World Geo.World Hist.U.S. History

The high school level STAAR tests are COURSE tests, NOT grade level tests A New WorldMust be linked to college readiness

Will have clearer, fewer, deeper focus

Provides a more clearly articulated assessment program

Focuses on fewer skills

Addresses those skills in a deeper manner8

8What does it mean to be an assessment of academic / college readiness?TAKSQuestion:Did I pass 6th grade?

STAARQuestionsDid I pass 6th grade?Am I ready for 7th grade?And 8th grade?

The goal of STAAR is to change the learning environment for success.

STAAR requires that we teach the TEKS to the fullest.

STAAR is designed to build through the years not just learn/test/its over.

STAAR measures student performance and academic growth.

9In a STAAR world, college readiness starts early10

Music Clip: Pomp and Circumstance

1011

One Step:Fewest barrelsTABS Exit Level Math(1982)

Two Steps:Find point on graphMultiply30 pupils x $300 = $9,000TEAMS Exit Level Math(1986)

Three Steps:Find paperon pie chartDivide tons of paper by total tons:72/1803.Convert to 40%TAAS Exit Level Math(1999)

Five Steps:Add all votes240 + 420 + 180 + 300 + 60 = 1,2002.Determine which student finished 3rd (Bridget: 240 votes)3.Determine Bridgets %age of votes240 / 1,200 = 20%Know that a pie chart has 360 total degreesDetermine 20% of 360 degrees:.20 x 360 = 72TAKS Exit Level Math(2002 Field Test)

Five Steps:

The student must know how to apply the quadratic formula to find the value of thediscrimant

Find quadratic equation on formula chart:

If there are two real number roots of the equationand the graph of the parabola crosses the x-axis at those roots

If there is a multiple or repeated root of the equation and the vertex of the graph of theparabola touches the x-axis at that root.

If the roots of the equation are imaginary numbersand the graph of the parabola does notintersect the x-axis

STAAR Exit Level Math?(2012)Where were you and what were you doing the year each test was administered?

STAAR Passing Standards:What does it take to pass?TAKSStandards were set separately for each grade and subject and were primarily informed by examination of test content

STAARStandards will be set as an aligned system across courses within a content area and will be set based on data from empirical studies of other state, national, and international assessments as well as on test content

BOTTOM LINE STAAR will likely have a more consistent and higher cut score to pass the test.13Performance standard for STAAR will be reset every three years.

STAAR will be so aligned that before a child enters your grade data from previous grade will serve as a tool to see what interventions are needed. We can also look at teachers who are showing tremendous growth and replicate those things that they are doing in other classes, thus having more gains across the board.13STAAR Passing Standards:When will we know what they are?High School STAAR testsFall 2011

Grades 3-8 STAAR testsFall 201214

By 2014 they are saying we should have 100% passing the test!14Other ConsiderationsTexas Education Agency (TEA) is considering implementing time limits for STAAR to align Texas' testing policies with other state and national assessments and better prepare students for timed tests such as SAT, ACT, and AP tests.Emphasis will be placed on applying learning in problem solving situations

15I think they have set time limits for the test.15Other ConsiderationsDegree of difficulty the result of a variety of factors:Length of test (STAAR longer than TAKS)Difficulty of questions (STAAR will include the hardest questions from TAKSMultiple steps required for identifying correct answer

16What can Parents do to Prepare Their Child for STARR?Read with your child every night!Let your children tackle problem solving activities so they can process the questions: Why does this happen? & What would happen if we did this? Why?Create a system and provide structure for your child in terms of homework, and if possible, check over their work.

17One thing that teachers can do to help get kids ready for STAAR is to use Higher Level Questioning Strategiesespecially in the middle to end of the year when they are tired. It is at this time when the curriculum usually gets more difficult and teachers need to focus on asking good questions.

For more information on STAAR check out the TEA website:

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar

18Readiness and supporting standards???1819