Texas Assessment Management System Teacher Portal Tutorial

What Is the Teacher Portal? The Teacher Portal is a centralized location that displays TAKS, TAKS–M, and TELPAS test results that are 1)listed at the individual student level and 2)aggregated by group. The portal offers access to assessment results for use in monitoring and helping to improve student achievement on the state assessments. The portal also allows a student’s performance to be viewed in relation to other groups, including campus, district, and statewide results, to which the teacher has access.

Where Is the Teacher Portal? To access the Teacher Portal, you must have login credentials and the appropriate access to the Texas Assessment Management System. Once you have logged into the Assessment Management System, click the Teacher Home link under the Teachers tab.

What Will I See in the Teacher Portal? When teachers log in, they will see test results aggregated by rostered groups and/or PEIMS classes and also at the individual student level. The view contains results for the TAKS, TAKS–M, and TELPAS test administrations for each group. A search feature allows teachers to perform a targeted search on the test, group name, and administration.

What Is a Rostered Group? A rostered group allows students to be organized into different aggregations, regardless of the group they may have been assigned to for assessment purposes. A rostered group is used within the Teacher Portal to display assessment results by objective, as well as other data for the rostered group of students. Contact your testing coordinator if you need rostered groups setup.

What Is a PEIMS Class? PEIMS Classes are class groups created from TEA PEIMS data that will allow teachers to view the assessment data, student details, and comparison data for the relevant classes from the previous school year for grades 3–8. Contact your testing coordinator if you cannot see your PEIMS Classes.

TAKS and TELPAS Views After the district or campus testing coordinator has granted users access and linked users to staff ID and/or rostered groups, the Teacher Portal can be used. There are two views available in the Teacher Portal: the TAKS view  Test Results  Student Details  Results Comparison the TELPAS view  Test Results  Student Details Group results are available from the 2007–2008 school year through the 2009–2010 school year.

The TAKS View—Test Results TAKS test results are initially presented by group. Only groups that the teacher is authorized to view are displayed. The size of the group, as well as the test administration, average scale score, and test results (number of students in each performance category), are displayed. Explanations of the TAKS data fields follow.

Explanations of Data Fields Assessment Program. Defaults to the TAKS program (including TAKS–M). Users can select the TAKS or TELPAS radio button to view assessment data for the respective programs. Groups. Teachers can view results by rostered groups or PEIMS Classes. Rostered groups must be assigned to the teacher by the district testing coordinator. PEIMS Classes must be linked to your user account by the district or campus testing coordinator. Search. Users can search by the test, group name, and administration. All results that match the search criteria are returned. Enclose the text with double quotes to return an exact string of text.

Explanations of Data Fields Test. Name of the test taken. Group Name. Name of the group (e.g., a class) associated with the user. Size. Number of students in the group.

Explanations of Data Fields Administration. Name of the test administration associated with the grouped test results. Average Scale Score. Displays the Average Scale Score for the group. The Average Scale Score displays first, followed by the maximum scale score for the associated test. The average score of the group is represented visually using a shaded bar to provide teachers with an easy, at-a-glance reference of the group’s scale score relative to the maximum possible score. The legend for the Average Scale Score is located immediately under the list of results.

Explanations of Data Fields Test Results. The red bar indicates the number of students in the class who did not meet the standard. The yellow bar indicates the number of students who met the standard. The green bar indicates the number of students who achieved commended performance. If there are no students in a particular category, that color bar will not appear. The number of students for which results are given may be less than the total size of the group if certain students did not test. The length of the colored bar represents the relative percentage of students that are in each performance category. For example, in the first colored bar, 12.5% (2 students) are in the did not meet category, 56.25% (9 students) are in the met standard category, and 31.25% (5 student) are in the commended performance category.

TAKS Student Performance Categories Commended Performance Commended Performance means the student performed at a level that was considerably above the state passing standard. The student showed a thorough understanding of the knowledge and skills tested. Met Standard Met Standard means the student performed at a level that was at or somewhat above the state passing standard. The student showed a sufficient understanding of the knowledge and skills tested. Did Not Meet Standard Did Not Meet Standard means the student performed at a level that was below the state passing standard. The student did not show a sufficient understanding of the knowledge and skills tested.

The TAKS View—Student Details Selecting a particular row in the group list populates the Student Details view and adds that group to the objective results comparison section as the default group. The Student Details view includes the student’s name, scale score (color coded to indicate the performance category), and objective scores for all students in the group who participated in the selected test.

Explanations of Data Fields Student Details. Displays test results by scale score and objective at the individual student level. Student Name. Displays the name of the student in the group (last name, first name, middle initial).

Explanations of Data Fields Scale Score and Objective Results. Displays the student’s scale score in comparison to the maximum scale score for the test. A red bar displays if the student did not meet the standard. A yellow bar displays if the student met the standard. A green bar displays if the student achieved commended performance. Gray displays to represent the maximum scale score. A blue bar indicates the student’s score for each objective. Gray displays to represent the total score (number of items possible for the objective). Students that did not test will be noted with the reason for not testing (Absent, Exempt-LEP, etc.).

What Is a Horizontal Scale Score? The horizontal scale score is used for TAKS, including TAKS (Accommodated), tests for grades 4 and 7 writing; grades 5 and 8 science; grade 8 social studies; and all subjects in grades 9, 10, and exit level. The horizontal scale is also used for all TAKS–M tests. The horizontal scale score is a statistic that allows a comparison of scores by adjusting for variations in the difficulty of the test forms used in different administrations. Thus, the horizontal scale score can be used to determine whether a student met the standard or achieved Commended Performance, to compare one student to another taking the same grade/subject area test, and to compare cohorts of students taking the same grade/subject area test in different years. However, the horizontal scale score cannot be used to evaluate a student’s progress across grades or subject areas. On the horizontal scale, the passing standard is 2100 and the commended standard is 2400.

What Is a Vertical Scale Score? The vertical scale score is used for the TAKS, including TAKS (Accommodated), grades 3–8 reading and mathematics tests (including English and Spanish versions for grades 3–5). The vertical scale score is a statistic that allows a comparison of scores by adjusting for variations in the difficulty of the test form used in different administrations. The important feature of the vertical scale score is that, unlike the horizontal scale score, it can be used to evaluate a student’s progress across grades. The vertical scale score can also be used to determine whether a student met the standard or achieved Commended Performance, to compare one student to another taking the same grade/subject area test, and to compare cohorts of students taking the same grade/subject area test in different years. However, the vertical scale score cannot be compared across subject areas within the same testing program. On the vertical scale, the passing standard and the commended standard increase for each grade. For example, the TAKS reading passing standard of the English version for grade 3 is 438 and for grade 4 is 554.

What Do the Objective Scores Mean? Objective-level information provided for all TAKS tests can be useful in helping identify skill areas in which further diagnosis is warranted. As with all tests given at a single point in time, the data generated from this snapshot should be used in conjunction with other evaluations of performance to provide an in- depth portrait of student achievement. Once an area of possible weakness has been identified, supplementary data should be gathered to further define what instructional intervention would be most effective.

Furthermore, since TAKS, including TAKS (Accommodated), and TAKS–M are equated only at the total test level for the subject area, year-to-year comparisons of objective-level performance should be made cautiously. In the test-construction process, every effort is made to approximate the overall difficulty of the objectives from year to year. However, some fluctuations in the difficulty of the objectives do occur at every administration. Observing trends in objective-level performance over time, identifying patterns of performance in clusters of objectives testing similar skills, and comparing campus or district objective-level performance to that of the state are appropriate uses of group objective-level information. What Do the Objective Scores Mean?

The TAKS View—Results Comparison The Objective Results Comparison view at the bottom of the screen appears for analysis. Each objective is noted, as well as the average number of items correct and the number of items tested. Teachers can also view the group average in comparison to other group(s), and the campus, district, and state averages. NOTE: The default view for Results Comparison is designated by the group selected from the Test Results list.

Explanations of Data Fields Objective Results Comparison. Displays average objective-level comparison data for the campus, district, and state, as well as the other groups the user has access to. Additionally, the group's objective score is represented visually using a colored bar to provide teachers with an easy, at-a-glance reference of the score relative to the scores of other groups.

Explanations of Data Fields Average Number of Items Correct. Displays the average number of items correct for each group selected. For the first objective shown above, Rostered Group C scored worse than the Campus Average, District Average, and State Average. For the second objective shown above, Rostered Group C scored better than the Campus Average, District Average, and State Average.

Explanations of Data Fields Items Tested. Total number of items associated with the objective. Groups. Displays the groups for which comparison data are available. Shows the average objective results of the group in the highlighted row in the Test Results section and provides the ability to compare other groups, including the campus, district, and state averages, or the averages of other groups. The group that is currently selected in the Test Results section is automatically selected in this section and cannot be deselected.

The TELPAS View—Test Results When teachers select the TELPAS radio button, test results are presented by group for any students that have TELPAS results from 2008 through the latest test administration. Only groups that the teacher is authorized to view are displayed. The size of the group, as well as the Average Comprehension Score, Average Composite Score, and Composite Score Proficiency Rating, are displayed. Explanations of the TELPAS data fields follow.

Explanations of Data Fields Assessment Program. Defaults to the TAKS program (including TAKS–M). Users can select the TAKS or TELPAS radio button to view assessment data for the respective programs. Groups. Teachers can view results by rostered groups or PEIMS Classes. Rostered groups must be assigned to the teacher by the district testing coordinator. PEIMS Classes must be linked to your user account by the district or campus testing coordinator. Search. Users can search by the test, group name, and administration. All results that match the search criteria are returned. Enclose the text with double quotes to return an exact string of text.

Explanations of Data Fields Test. Name of the test taken. Group Name. Name of the group (for example, a class) associated with the user. Size. Number of students in the group. Administration. Name of the test administration associated with the grouped test results.

Explanations of Data Fields Average Comprehension Score. Displays the Average Comprehension Score for the group. Gray displays represent the maximum comprehension score (4.0). The legend for the Average Comprehension Score is located immediately under the list of results. "No Score Available" is displayed if no students in the group have both a listening and reading rating. This score ranges from 1 to 4 and indicates how well the students in the group understand the English they hear and read. To determine this score, the listening and reading ratings are each converted to a number from 1 (beginning) to 4 (advanced high). The average of the two numbers is the comprehension score.

Explanations of Data Fields Average Composite Score. Displays the Average Composite Score for the group. Gray displays represent the maximum composite score (4.0). The legend for the Average Composite Score is located immediately under the list of results. “No Rating Available" is displayed if all of the students in the group do not have an individual composite rating. The composite results indicate the group’s overall level of English language proficiency and are determined from listening, speaking, reading, and writing proficiency ratings, with the most weight being given to the reading proficiency rating. The composite score ranges from 1 to 4.

Explanations of Data Fields Composite Score Proficiency Rating. Displays the number of students with each proficiency rating at the composite level: beginning, intermediate, advanced, and advanced high. The number of students at each proficiency level is displayed in the bar graph for each level. The color legend for the different proficiency ratings is located immediately under the list of results.

English Proficiency Levels The abilities generally demonstrated by students at the four English proficiency levels are: Beginning—Students who receive this rating are in the early stages of learning English. These students have a small vocabulary of very common words and little ability to use English in academic settings. These students often communicate using English they have memorized. Intermediate—Students who receive this rating are able to use common, basic English in routine academic activities but need considerable English- language support to make learning understandable. Socially, these students are able to communicate simply about familiar topics and are generally able to understand conversations but may not comprehend all the details. Advanced—Students who receive this rating are able to understand and use academic English in classroom activities when given some English-language support. In social situations, these students can understand most of what they hear but have some difficulty with unfamiliar grammar and vocabulary. Advanced High—Students who receive this rating are able to use academic English in classroom activities with little English-language support from others, even when learning about unfamiliar material. Students at this level have a large enough English vocabulary to communicate clearly and fluently in most situations.

The TELPAS View—Student Details Selecting a particular row in the group list populates the Student Details information. The Student Details view includes the student’s name, grade, TELPAS reading results, scale score, proficiency ratings, comprehension score, and composite score/rating for all students in the group who participated in the selected test. TELPAS reading results and scale score are not applicable for grades K–1.

Explanations of Data Fields Student Details. Displays test results by TELPAS reading items correct/tested, scale score, comprehension score, composite score/rating, and proficiency rating at the individual student level. Student Name. The name of the student in the group is displayed (last name, first name, middle initial).

Explanations of Data Fields TELPAS Reading Results. Displays the student’s TELPAS reading performance for each proficiency level: beginning, intermediate, advanced, and advanced high. For grades 2–12, gray displays to represent the total score possible. The student’s score, number of items answered correctly, and the number of items tested for each level are also displayed for grades 2–12. Students that did not test will be noted with the reason for not testing (Absent, Parental Denial, 2nd Semester Immigrant, etc.).

Explanations of Data Fields Scale Score. Displays the student’s performance on the TELPAS reading test (for grades 2–12). The proficiency level (beginning, intermediate, advanced, and advanced high) is indicated by the color of the scale score bar. Gray displays represent the total scale score possible. Reading scores are not available for grades K–1. The scale score is a statistic used to show a student’s overall performance on the test. This score is related to the total number of questions the student answered correctly. The scale score can be used to identify how high or low the student performed within a specific proficiency level.

Explanations of Data Fields Proficiency Ratings. The reading proficiency rating comes from the multiple-choice TELPAS reading test (for grades 2–12) or classroom observations (grades K–1). The listening, speaking, and writing proficiency ratings come from classroom observations. The proficiency rating indicates whether the student’s performance on the test was at the beginning (BEG), intermediate (INT), advanced (ADV), or advanced high (AH) level.

Explanations of Data Fields Comprehension Score. Displays the average of the student’s listening and reading proficiency ratings after the ratings are converted to numbers. Gray displays represent the maximum comprehension score (4.0). The legend for the Comprehension Score is located immediately under the list of results. "No Score Available" is displayed if either listening or reading ratings are not available. This score ranges from 1 to 4 and indicates how well the student understands the English he hears and reads. To determine this score, the listening and reading ratings are each converted to a number from 1 (beginning) to 4 (advanced high). The average of the two numbers is the Comprehension Score.

Explanations of Data Fields Composite Score/Rating. Only displays if the student tested in all domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Gray displays represent the maximum (4) composite score. The legend for the Composite Score is located immediately under the list of results. “No Rating Available" is displayed if the student did not test in all subjects. The composite results indicate the student’s overall level of English language proficiency and are determined from listening, speaking, reading, and writing proficiency ratings, with the most weight being given to the reading proficiency rating. The Composite Score ranges from 1 to 4.

Resources For more information, refer to the User’s Guide for the Texas Assessment Management System, located on the Resources page of the Texas Assessment website at For technical support, contact Pearson’s Austin Operations Center at