END OF COURSE STAAR TESTING What every 9 th grade student and parent need to know Sept. 2011

All information in this presentation is current as of September 14, All slides are taken directly from TEA material unless noted as a local slide. (red) Information presented may change prior to the actual End of Course testing. We will do our best to keep you up to date regarding changes.

What is STAAR? STAAR is a more rigorous standardized testing program that will replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) for elementary, middle, and high school students. The new STAAR program will emphasize “readiness” standards, which are the knowledge and skills that are considered most important for success in the grade or subject that follows and for college and career.

What tests must you take in high school? Students first entering ninth grade in the 2011–2012 school year will notice the biggest difference in the new testing program. Under the TAKS program, students were required to take two tests in the ninth grade and four tests in both the 10th and 11th grade. In order to graduate, students were required to pass four exit-level tests given at 11th grade. With the new STAAR program, the exit-level tests will be replaced with 12 end-of-course (EOC) assessments, which students will take as they complete the corresponding course.

The 12 EOC assessments are: English I, English II, English III (2 parts each, graded separately) Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II Biology, Chemistry, Physics World Geography, World History, and U.S. History

How is STAAR different from TAKS? The new end-of-course assessments will only assess the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for a given course, unlike the high school TAKS tests that cover material from multiple courses. The questions on the new STAAR will be deeper and more complex than TAKS.

In reading, greater emphasis will be given to critical analysis rather than to literal understanding. In writing, students will be required to write two essays instead of one, and the English EOC assessments will be administered over two days. In science and math, the number of open- ended (griddable) questions will increase to allow students to derive an answer independently.

TIME LIMITS There will be a four hour time limit to complete the test unless the student obtains a special exception

15% Rule A student’s score on the STAAR EOC assessment will count 15 percent towards the student’s final grade in that course.

If a student has a passing grade in a course before the EOC score is calculated but a failing grade once the EOC score is included, can the student still be given credit for the course? No! TAC §74.26(c), regarding credit for high school graduation, stipulates that ―credit for courses for high school graduation may be earned only if the student received a grade which is the equivalent of 70 on a scale of 100, based upon the essential knowledge and skills for each course.‖ A student whose final grade for a course is less than the equivalent of a 70 on a scale of 100 may not be given credit for that course, since by law the grade must include the student’s score on the EOC assessment. Districts retain the same options that have always been available: (a) to use summer school or other remediation for purposes of allowing the student to reach a passing grade for the course or (b) to take the EOC assessment in subsequent administrations to increase that portion of the final grade.

What happens if you pass the course but fail the test? If a student passes the course, but does not earn the required minimum score on the EOC assessment, the student may retake the test. The student is not required to retake a course as a condition of retaking the test for that course. The school is required to provide accelerated instruction to each student who fails to perform satisfactorily on any EOC assessment

. Districts retain the same options that have always been available: (a) to use summer school or other remediation for purposes of allowing the student to reach a passing grade for the course or (b) to take the EOC assessment in subsequent administrations to increase that portion of the final grade. City View Policy is still under review by TASB.

Performance Labels There will be two cut scores, which will identify three performance categories for the general STAAR assessments. – The labels for the performance categories are – Level III: Advanced Academic Performance – Level II: Satisfactory Academic Performance – Level I: Unsatisfactory Academic Performance

Performance Standards for EOC Assessments Standards will be set in February 2012 prior to first high stakes administration in spring First reports with performance standards applied will be available in June First retests will be offered in July 2012.

Implications: We will NOT have scores until after school dismisses in May. (They are due in the district by June 8.) Expect “Incompletes” on initial report card when school is dismissed or a delay until mid June in receiving Freshmen report cards. (Local Interpretation: not a TEA slide)

Cumulative Scores In order to graduate, a student must achieve a cumulative score that is at least equal to the product of the number of EOC assessments taken in that content area and a scale score that indicates satisfactory performance, Level II: Satisfactory Academic Performance.

A student must achieve a minimum score, as determined by the commissioner, for the score to count towards the student’s cumulative score. A student’s cumulative score is determined using the student‘s highest score on each EOC assessment.

There will be a “minimum score” established that is below “Satisfactory Academic Performance”(Level II) that will be allowed to be used toward reaching the cumulative total. For example: If the Level II cutoff was 70, and a student had a 68, they wouldn’t have “passed” but they could still count that score towards their cumulative total. If they scored a high score on one of their subsequent tests in that core area, they would still meet the cumulative score requirement. This “minimum score” range has not been established yet. (local slide: not developed by TEA)

Retesting Students are encouraged to retest as soon as possible if it is needed to either pass a test or to raise their cumulative average. We are still awaiting “legal” policy, but grades will only be recalculated if the retest will allow a failing grade to change to a passing grade. (Local slide: not developed by TEA)

What are the STAAR EOC assessment requirements for the different graduation programs?

Minimum Plan Students graduating under the Minimum High School Program (MHSP) must take STAAR EOC assessments for all courses in which they are enrolled and for which there is a STAAR EOC assessment available and meet a cumulative score requirement in each of the four foundation content areas. It is possible that some students graduating on the minimum plan will need to perform satisfactorily on as few as eight EOC assessments.

Recommended Plan Students graduating under the Recommended High School Program (RHSP) must take all twelve STAAR EOC assessments (Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II, biology, chemistry, physics, English I, English II, English III, world geography, world history, and U.S. history) and meet the cumulative score requirement in each of the four foundation content areas. Additionally, these students must achieve Level II: Satisfactory Academic Performance on the Algebra II and English III assessments in order to receive a diploma under the RHSP.

Distinguished (DAP) Students graduating under the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP) must take all twelve EOC assessments and meet the cumulative score requirement in each of the four foundation content areas. In addition, these students must meet Level III: Advanced Academic Performance, the postsecondary-readiness performance standard, on the Algebra II and English III assessments in order to receive a diploma under the DAP.

Accelerated Instruction Accelerated instruction will probably include a summer program and a before or after school program in (sophomore year) and beyond. (local slide: not developed by TEA)

Credit By Exam/Learning Lab Students may use credit by examination to fulfill their course requirements; however, they are still required to take STAAR EOC assessments to fulfill their testing requirements.

Special Populations There are specific provisions regarding testing for special education students, English Language Learners, Dyslexic students and students who are covered by Americans with Disabilities Act, section 504. Since these are handled on individual case by case incidents they are not covered in this presentation. Please do not hesitate to contact the school about how any of this applies to your child. (Local slide: not developed by TEA)

Where can I go to find more information about the STAAR program? For more information about the STAAR program, visit the TEA Student Assessment website at t/staar.

Dates for 2012 EOC Testing March 26 (Monday) English I Writing March 27 (Tuesday) English I Reading May 7-May 18 Testing window: Specific dates to be assigned later July 9-13 First retest opportunity

Who should I contact with questions? At City View: Contact your student’s teacher regarding course work and preparation Contact the Guidance Office (Mrs. Finn)regarding graduation plans and credits Contact Mrs. Talbott concerning testing specifics (Local Slide)

What we know: 12 EOC tests starting in Freshman year EOC’s will count as 15% of course grade There are cumulative score requirements overall as well as in each core area There are different testing requirements for each graduation plan There is a 4 hour time limit (Local slide summary)

What we still don’t know: What will be the passing standard for each EOC? Will the passing standards be “phased in”? What will be the minimally acceptable score (not passing but able to be counted in the cumulative total)? How will City View address the 15% rule? What remediation will City View offer during the summer of 2012 and the school year of ? (Local slide)