1. Highlights: TETN 12/8/14 STAAR ALTERNATE 2 INFORMATION

2. STAAR Alternate 2 Administration Procedures Texas Education Agency Student Assessment Division DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 2

3. Assessment Window and Tested Subjects DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 3 The STAAR Alternate 2 testing window is February 9–27, 2015. Districts may choose when to administer each subject and grade-level test within the window. The test will be administered in the following grades and subjects:

4. Updates DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 4 Participation counts must be entered in the Texas Assessment Management System, delivered through PearsonAccess, beginning September 22, 2014, and submitted no later than 11:00 PM (CT) on October 24, 2014. Districts will need to submit their own student data files. Pearson will not load previous year STAAR Alternate 2 students. The End-of-Course (EOC) Code field (CSV location AI) is mandatory for STAAR Alternate 2 grades 9–12.

5. Updates (continued) DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 5 The Alternate Assessment Assistant and Alternate Assessment Teacher roles in the assessment management system will no longer have permissions associated with them beginning December 2014. Alternate Assessment teachers no longer have to be assigned to students in the assessment management system. Test sessions must be created and students added to test sessions. The STAAR Alternate 2 assessment window is shorter.

6. DRAFT TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY - STUDENT ASSESSMENT DIVISION6 STAAR ALTERNATE 2 IMPORTANT DATES 9/22/2014 – 10/24/2014Participation counts window 11/5/2014 – 2/27/2015 SDU submission window Registration available 02/20/2015Deadline to order additional materials 1/9/2015Materials list posted online 1/19/2015Test session creation 1/23/2015Materials due in district 2/2/2015Proctor caching available Up to 10 days before 2/9/2015Preview window 2/9/2015 – 2/27/2015STAAR Alternate 2 Assessment 2/10/2015 Transfer date: students entering the district on February 10 or later do not have to be assessed 3/2/2015 – 3/3/2015 Data verification Test administrators can continue transcribing student responses 3/6/2015Return nonscorable materials 5/20/2015Grades 3 – 8 reports due in district 6/5/2015EOC reports due in district

7. Materials Materials list posted online by: 1/9/2015 Due in district by: 1/23/2015 Deadline to order additional materials: 02/20/2015 Return secure nonscorable materials to Pearson by: 3/6/2015 DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 7

8. Texas Assessment Management System Tasks: Testing Coordinators DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 8 Enter or Upload Student Data Create Test Sessions Add Students to Test Sessions Print Student Authorizations

9. Enter or Upload Student Data There are two options for entering student data to the Assessment Management System. Districts may upload student data using a file created locally, and/or enter student data manually. DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 9

10. Create Test Sessions In order for test administrators to transcribe student responses into TestNav, students must be assigned to test sessions. Test sessions are electronic groupings of students that are specific to each grade, subject, course and test form (five forms in most grades). Campus testing coordinators should create test sessions at least one to two weeks before testing. After sessions have been created, students can be added individually or by group. DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 10

11. Who Can Administer STAAR Alternate 2? DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 11 The STAAR Alternate 2 test administrator: should be the student’s teacher for the subject being tested, and must have a high level of familiarity with the student so that testing accommodations can be prepared appropriately and the student’s typical response modes can be understood.

12. Paraprofessionals DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 12 Certified and noncertified paraprofessionals who may serve as test administrators or test administrator assistants are: currently employed by the district, and routinely work with students in the classroom. Paraprofessionals must be supervised by a certified professional on the same campus throughout the test administration, receive training and sign the test administrator oath.

13. Test Administrator Assistants DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 13 The test administrator assistant can provide assistance including: preparing allowable accommodations as directed, manipulating materials during the testing session, translating or signing information for the student, and managing student behavior. All test administrator assistants: must be trained in test security and administration procedures prior to the assessment, and must sign the test administrator’s oath of test security and confidentiality.

14. Test Administrator Oath DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 14 Test administrators must initial and sign the test administrator oath following training on test security and general testing procedures and before handling secure test materials.

15. Test Administrator Responsibilities DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 15 Include: maintaining security of test materials while in their possession, preparing test materials for each administration, implementing the test administration processes and procedures stated in the manuals, reporting any suspected violation of test security to the campus coordinator, transcribing student responses into TestNav, and preparing test materials for return to the campus coordinator at the conclusion of test administrations

16. Test Security and Confidentiality STAAR Alternate 2 standardized test administration materials are considered secure. Test security involves accounting for all secure materials and confidential student information before, during, and after the test administration. Test administrators for the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment must be aware that they are viewing secure content and that discussing the content of the test at any time is strictly prohibited. As a reminder of this obligation, STAAR Alternate 2 test administrators are required to sign a separate section of the test administrator’s oath. No person may discuss student responses or STAAR Alternate 2 scoring information during or after a test administration. DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 16

17. Test Administration Process DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 17 Preview Test Materials Plan and Prepare Accommodations Consider Timing Options Administer the Assessment Repeating the Presentation Instructions

18. STAAR Alternate 2 test administrators will be provided with the following materials: DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 18 Provides a guide to administering the test, as well as specific instructions for administering each question Contains the images for the questions and answer choices presented to the student. A single sheet with answer bubbles for recording student responses for later input into the online transcription form in TestNav. This required document must be returned to the campus coordinator. STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator Manual— secure; Student booklet—secure; STAAR Alternate 2 Scoring Document—secure during and after use; Receive Test Materials

19. Texas Assessment Management System Tasks: Test Administrators DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 19 Transcribe student responses into TestNav Submit tests to be scored Enter Do Not Score information Enter accommodations information

20. Transcribe Student Responses into TestNav After student authorizations have been printed, student responses can be added into TestNav. The test administrator will log in to TestNav using the student’s authorization ticket and transcribe student responses. A student’s transcribed responses are automatically scored when the Final Submit button is clicked at the end of the test. It is not necessary to make a selection in the Score Code menu for student responses to be scored. DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 20

21. Steps to Transcribe DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 21 6. After logging in, you should now see a screen with the appropriate grade, subject, and form number. If you do not, check that you have entered the username and test code exactly as printed. Make sure the student’s name appears in the top right corner of the screen.

22. Submit Tests to be Scored A student’s transcribed responses are automatically scored when the Final Submit button is clicked at the end of the test. It is not necessary to make a selection in the Score Code menu for tests to be scored. If the student was in attendance during the 10-day testing window but was not able to finish the test, the test is scored according to the data that was entered into the system for the sections that were completed. DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 22

23. Enter Do Not Score Information If directed by your campus coordinator, assign score codes on the Student Test Details screen. Some score codes are determined by the ARD committee and must be documented in the student’s IEP. “Do Not Score” Code Information In most cases, a “do not score” code should be entered when the test is marked complete. The Mark Test Complete screen includes a drop-down menu of “do not score” reasons. However, if a test has been submitted and a do not score reason needs to be chosen, you will need to make these selections from the Student Details screen. DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 23

24. Score Codes For students who are absent within the window after testing has started, every attempt must be made for them to complete testing during the window. If the assessment cannot be completed within the testing window, enter the scores for the portion of testing the student was able to complete into the online form in TestNav. If a student is absent for the entire assessment window, his or her assessments should be marked with a score code of A = Absent. A = Absent The student is absent throughout the testing window. A student should not be marked absent if the student was absent on the testing days but also fits one of the score designations below. M = Medical Exception The student is unable to participate meaningfully in the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment on the basis of the student’s medical condition, as determined by the ARD committee and documented in the student’s IEP. A decision not to assess a student should be rare. DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 24

25. Score Codes N = No Authentic Academic Response (NAAR) The student is unable to participate meaningfully in the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment on the basis of the student’s disability, resulting in the inability to make an authentic response to stimuli presented in the test booklet, as determined by the ARD committee and documented in the student’s IEP. A decision not to assess a student should be rare. DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 25 O = Other Student Not to Be Scored The student experiences a test administration irregularity or illness during testing.

26. Marking a Test Complete A student’s test should only be marked complete in a “do not score” situation. If testing personnel has accidentally logged in with the wrong student information, do NOT mark the test complete. If your campus coordinator directs you to mark a test as complete, complete the following steps: 1. Return to the Session Details screen and select the checkbox next to the student’s name. 2. Click the Mark Test Complete button to go to the Mark Test Complete screen. DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 26

27. Mark Test Complete DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 27 3. Enter the “do not score” reason for marking the test complete. 4. Click the Save button.

28. Mark Test Complete The student’s status will then appear as “Marked Complete.” Some user roles do not have access to the Mark Test Complete button. If you do not have access to the button, contact your campus coordinator. DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 28

29. Enter Accommodations Information Additionally, test administrators or other campus personnel will complete the accommodations information for each assessment after the student responses have been transcribed. DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 29

30. Enter Accommodations Information DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 30 If a student was provided accommodations, the accommodations must be indicated in the accommodations drop-down menus on the Student Test Details screen. On the Student Test Details screen, indicate the accommodations that were used during the assessment by selecting “Yes” from the drop-down menu next to the accommodation. If an accommodation was not used, the field should be left in the “No” position. You will only be able to indicate the accommodations that were used during the assessment after the student’s responses have been submitted through TestNav.

31. Return Test Materials to the Campus Coordinator After each test session, the test administrator must return all test materials to the campus coordinator. As appropriate, test materials will be redistributed before the next test session. Return the following materials to your campus coordinator: STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator Manuals, student booklets, STAAR Alternate 2 Scoring Documents, photocopies of secure test materials, if needed. Any accompanying pictures, objects, textured materials, or instructional tools do not need to be returned. Your campus coordinator will verify that you have returned all test materials assigned to you, as recorded on the STAAR Alternate 2 Materials Control Form, and will then initial the “In” box. Your signed oath of test security and confidentiality will be retained by your campus coordinator for five years. DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 31

32. Materials (continued) DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 32 Return nonscorable materials: student test booklets grouped by grade for grades 3–8 student test booklets grouped by course for EOC assessments secure Alternate 2 test administrator manuals photocopies of secure test materials, if any were created Pack STAAR Alternate 2 materials either by campus or by district. If you are packing by campus, be sure that all the materials for a single campus are grouped together and packed in the box before adding materials from another campus. Do not mix STAAR Alternate 2 materials with STAAR or TELPAS materials in the same shipment.

33. Test Results DRAFT TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY - STUDENT ASSESSMENT DIVISION33 Score reports will include the individual performance level ratings of students, scale scores, and number of questions answered correctly within each reporting category for each of the assessed grades and content areas. Score reports are due in district: 5/20/2015 (Grades 3 – 8) 6/5/2015 (EOC)

34. DRAFT TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY - STUDENT ASSESSMENT DIVISION34 Resources Educator Guide for STAAR A and STAAR Alternate 2 User’s Guide for the Texas Assessment Management System 2015 District and Campus Coordinator Manual STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator Manuals STAAR Alternate 2 Sample Items STAAR Alternate 2 Administration Participation Collection (broadcast e-mail) STAAR Alternate 2 Medical Exception Eligibility Requirements STAAR Alternate 2 No Authentic Academic Response Eligibility Requirements Texas Education Agency: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/special- ed/staaralt/ http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/special- ed/staaralt/

35. Support Texas Education Agency (TEA) Phone: (512) 463-9536 Email: staaralt@tea.state.tx.usstaaralt@tea.state.tx.us Pearson’s Austin Operations Center Phone: (800) 627-0225 Email: TXPearsonAccess@support.pearson.comTXPearsonAccess@support.pearson.com DRAFT Texas Education Agency - Student Assessment Division 35