1. Santa Ana Unified School District Dept. of Research and Evaluation
Santa Ana Unified School District Office of Research and Evaluation
6/18/2019
STAR Testing and Students with Disabilities: What Parents Should Know
Santa Ana Unified School District Dept. of Research and Evaluation
6/18/2019

2. Santa Ana Unified School District Office of Research and Evaluation
6/18/2019
Presentation Goals
By the end of this presentation…
You will know about SAUSD achievement for students participating in Special Education
You will know about the various STAR tests for students with disabilities
You will know how to help your students prepare for STAR testing
6/18/2019

3. Students with Disabilities
Improving Student Achievement for Students Participating in Special Education SAUSD Academic Performance Indicators (API) 5-Year Growth District-wide and Special Education
API 5 Year Summary
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Total 5 Year Growth
SAUSD
685
706
723
740
754 69
Students with Disabilities
490
497
519
583
604
114

4. Q: What tests do we administer in Santa Ana Unified School District?
Santa Ana Unified School District Office of Research and Evaluation
6/18/2019
Q: What tests do we administer in Santa Ana Unified School District?
Standardized Testing And Reporting
California Standards Test (CST)
California Modified Assessment (CMA)
 California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA)
Standards Based Test in Spanish (STS)
(Your child may have taken one or more tests)
Early Assessment Program (EAP)
Our Focus for Today
CST-series of achievement tests developed for CA public schools to assess state content standards.
CMA-assessment for students who have an IEP, are receiving grade level instruction, & even w/interventions aren’t likely to achieve grade-level proficiency. The purpose is to allow students to demonstrate their achievement of the content standards.
CAPA-individually administered performance assessment for students who have significant cognitive disabilities & are unable to take the CSTs w/accommodations or modifications or the CMA w/accommodations.
STS-multiple choice tests that are required for Spanish-speaking English Learners who receive instruction in Spanish or have been enrolled in a school in the U.S. for less than 12 months cumulative (not consecutive). Assesses students’ achievement of CA content standards in the primary language.
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5. Santa Ana Unified School District Office of Research and Evaluation
6/18/2019
When and Where?
Q: When Does My Child Take the Tests? A: STAR is every Spring Q: Where Does My Child Take the Tests? A: STAR tests are administered at your child’s home school
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6. Q: How Are STAR Results Used to Help Students?
Santa Ana Unified School District Office of Research and Evaluation
6/18/2019
Q: How Are STAR Results Used to Help Students?
Answer:
STAR
-Identify Academic Strengths and Needs
-Meetings with Teachers
-Alignment to Standards
-California Reading List
-A More Complete Picture
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7. Q: What might the test look like?
Santa Ana Unified School District Office of Research and Evaluation
6/18/2019
Q: What might the test look like?
Let’s see what it looks like . . .
And let’s try a few
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8. Differences between CST & CMA ELA
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9. Differences between CST & CMA ELA
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10. Differences between CST & CMA Math
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11. Differences between CST & CMA Science
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12. CAPA Sample Tasks - ELA
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13. What is an accommodation or modification?
Accommodation? It is any variation in the testing environment or process that does not change what the test measures or affects the comparability of scores Ex. Having the math test read to the student or having a supervised break Modification? It is any variation in the assessment environment or process that fundamentally changes what the test measure or affects the comparability of scores Ex. Having the English-language arts test read to the student or using a calculator
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14. A word about accommodations . . .
Santa Ana Unified School District Office of Research and Evaluation
6/18/2019
A word about accommodations . . .
Who can use them?
If specified in the eligible student’s IEP or Section 504 plan for use on the examination, a student can use an approved accommodation or modification on standardized testing
What are the most common?
Most Common ‘11-’12 CST ELA Accommodations:
Supervised Breaks
Beneficial Time of Day
Tested More than One Day
Most Common ‘11-’12 CMA ELA Accommodations:
Read Aloud (test questions/answer options)
Admin. Test Beneficial Time of Day
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15. How can parents help with testing accommodations?
Santa Ana Unified School District Office of Research and Evaluation
6/18/2019
How can parents help with testing accommodations?
Talk with the IEP team to make sure that they are reviewing the available testing accommodations and choosing those that will support your child best
Be aware of the accommodations that have been selected and, if appropriate, practice using them at home (e.g. using manipulatives)
Be positive about using accommodations
6/18/2019

16. *Note: Missing scores were not included in this analysis
Why Take an Accommodation? STAR ELA % CMA Performance Levels by Refusals and Test Type Taken
Most Common ‘11-’12 CMA Accommodations: Read Aloud (n=1621), Supervised Breaks (n=576), Admin. Test Beneficial Time of Day (n=191)
Most Common ‘10-’11 CMA Accommodations.: Read Aloud (n=1256), Supervised Breaks (n=549), Admin. Test Beneficial Time of Day (n=206)
*Note: Missing scores were not included in this analysis

17. How can parents help their child/children prepare for testing??
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18. What can I do to help my student prepare for the STAR?
Santa Ana Unified School District Office of Research and Evaluation
6/18/2019
What can I do to help my student prepare for the STAR?
At the beginning of and throughout the year:
Review the California Content Standards (with your child’s teacher) for each subject area
Ask for the results of your child’s benchmark tests
Encourage your child to read everyday
Connect with your child’s teacher about his/her progress
Say, “Hi!” to your child’s teacher
Attend conferences
Attend parent meetings
Review your child’s STAR Student Report with your child
Review your child’s report card with your child
During testing:
Ensure Proper Diet and Adequate Rest Before Testing
Help Your Child Understand Teachers’ Behaviors During Testing
Help Your Child Understand Their Own Behaviors During and After Testing
Avoid Stressful or Emotional Situations in the Home, if possible
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19. Frequently Asked Questions
Is it okay to guess on a test?
Are the STAR tests timed?
Can parents take a look at the tests?

20. Reference and On-line Resources
Santa Ana Unified School District Office of Research and Evaluation
6/18/2019
Reference and On-line Resources
(2010). A parent’s handbook: Your child and standardized tests, grades 3-5. Channing Bete Company. California Department of Education STAR website at:
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21. Santa Ana Unified School District Office of Research and Evaluation
6/18/2019

22. Resources: http://www.sausd.us/Page/13644
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23. Santa Ana Unified School District Office of Research and Evaluation
6/18/2019
Contact Information
Dept. of Research and Evaluation Santa Ana Unified School District (714) Phone (714) FAX
6/18/2019