STAAR for Students with Special Needs – January 2012

1. STAAR for Students with Special Needs – January 2012 Welcome The Webinar will begin in a few minutes If you have not already done so, you may download the Handout and PowerPoint at http://lead4ward.com/specialneeds/ Password: staarSpecial

2. STAAR Logistics Webinar Series January 2012 STAAR for Students with Special Needs

3. Welcome!

4. STAAR Logistics Webinar Series • Graduation and Grading in the World of STAAR • Wednesday, October 19, 2011 • Materials and Webinar Recording: info@lead4ward.com • STAAR for Students with Special Needs • Today’s webinar is an updated version of a webinar originally presented on Wednesday, November 2, 2011

5. YourQuestions

6. Framing our Discussion • What we know • Statute • Policy • TEA Guidance • District Responsibilities • Maintaining focus

7. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication~Leonard da Vinci

8. Keeping things simple . . .

9. Keeping things simple . . . What do we teach? What aids can be used? What tests can we give?

11. OR . . .

12. What do we teach?

13. It’s ALL about the TEKS

14. What do we test?

15. It’s ALL about the TEKS

16. Assessed Curriculum Process Standard Supporting Standard Readiness Standard Reporting Category p. 1

17. p. 2

18. What tests can we give?

19. Start with STAAR

20. Versions of STAAR • STAAR • STAAR Alternate • STAAR Modified • STAAR L • STAAR Spanish Only for students receiving special education services Only for ELL students

21. p. 3 http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/special-ed/staaralt/

22. STAAR Alternate • All tested subjects in Grades 3-8 • 9 of 12 EOCs • ALL operational in Spring 2012 • TAKS-Alt no longer administered • Achievement standards set in fall 2012

23. STAAR Alternate • Similar in design to TAKS–Alt, assessment tasks linked to the grade-level TEKS • Vertical alignment in assessment tasks • 4 essence statements assessed per subject - all state developed and required • More rigorous standardized assessment tasks • Three levels of complexity developed from state-selected prerequisite skills • 3 state-developed predetermined criteria for scoring each assessment task

24. STAAR AlternateParticipation Requirements Must meet all 5 (with specific evidence in IEP) • has a significant cognitive disability (rules out students with a learning disability) • requires specialized supports to access the grade-level curriculum and environment • requires intensive, individualized instruction • accesses and participates in the grade-level TEKS through prerequisite skills • demonstrates knowledge and skills through performance tasks

25. STAAR AlternateEOCs • Students taking STAAR Alternate graduate under the Minimum High School Program (MHSP) • Course requirements specified in MHSP • Students taking STAAR Alternate must be enrolled in courses with PEIMS numbers that identify the courses as “alternate” substitutes for MHSP-required courses • 15% and cumulative score requirements are not applicable to STAAR Alternate

26. STAAR AlternateEOCs • High school students taking STAAR Alternate must participate in STAAR Alternate assessments for all courses required for graduation under MHSP (that are taken in 2011-12 or after) • 10th, 11th and 12th graders in 2011-12 take STAAR Alternate if enrolled in “substitute” courses for MHSP requirements (prior TAKS-Alt results provide evidence of alignment of “substitute” course credits earned prior to 2011-12)

27. STAAR Alternate - Considerations • Essence statements  Readiness Standards • Opportunities to learn and generalize • Opportunities in academic and social settings • Communication, communication, communication…

28. p. 4 http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/special-ed/staarm/

29. STAAR Modified • All tested subjects in Grades 3-8 • 9 of 12 EOCs • ONLY 4 operational in Spring 2012 • Achievement standards set in fall 2012

30. STAAR Modified • Reflects same increase in rigor as STAAR • Questions written at the level of the TEKS • Designed similar to TAKS-M • 20% reduction in length from STAAR • delete 1 answer choices • simplified sentence structure • Embedded field test items

31. STAAR ModifiedExamples of Modifications – Grades 3-8 Reading/ELA • Pre-reading text - read aloud • No paired selections Gr. 4-8 (no thematically linked crossover questions) • Divide reading and editing selections into chunks (not revising) • Score writing compositions on 3-point rubric Math • Reduce # of steps • Provide formula and/or conversion in a text box within the item • Provide explicit directions to explain a process • Provide practice grids for griddable items Science • Reduce # of steps • Provide formula and/or conversion in a text box within the item • Provide explicit directions to explain a process • Bold defined, non-tested, subject-specific terms in a text box or provide definition in parenthesis after the word Social Studies • Replace archaic language with simplified text (e.g. quotations) • Shorten historical excerpts • Use ellipses to replace deleted information when appropriate

32. STAAR Modified • STAAR Modified sample items are being posted by TEA • Examples • Algebra I • World Geography • Grade 8 Science p. 8-9

33. STAAR Algebra I A.2.B identify mathematical domains and ranges and determine reasonable domain and range values for given situations, both continuous and discrete (Readiness Standard)

34. STAAR Modified Algebra I A.2.B identify mathematical domains and ranges and determine reasonable domain and range values for given situations, both continuous and discrete (Readiness Standard)

35. STAAR World Geography G.1.A analyze the effects of physical and human geographic patterns and processes on the past and describe their impact on the present, including significant physical features and environmental conditions that influenced migration patterns and shaped the distribution of culture groups today

36. STAAR World Geography G.1.A analyze the effects of physical and human geographic patterns and processes on the past and describe their impact on the present, including significant physical features and environmental conditions that influenced migration patterns and shaped the distribution of culture groups today

37. STAAR Grade 8 Science 6.12.D identify the basic characteristics of organisms, including prokaryotic or eukaryotic, unicellular or multicellular, autotrophic or heterotrophic, and mode of reproduction, that further classify them in the currently recognized Kingdoms

38. STAAR Grade 8 Science 6.12.D identify the basic characteristics of organisms, including prokaryotic or eukaryotic, unicellular or multicellular, autotrophic or heterotrophic, and mode of reproduction, that further classify them in the currently recognized Kingdoms

39. STAAR ModifiedParticipation Requirements • Must meet all 3 (with specific evidence in IEP) • Multiple years behind grade-level or course expectations and will not progress at rate of non-disabled peers • IEP contains TEKS-based goals indicating modified content required to access EGL curriculum or course • Direct (small group or individualized) and intensive (continuous and ongoing) instructionrequired to acquire, maintain and transfer skills

40. STAAR ModifiedMore, more, more . . . • ARDC must address implications for graduation • Other assurances • Multiple sources of measurable, objective evidence for decision • Decision based on educational needs of student • Decision NOT based on 2% cap

41. STAAR Modified EOCs • Students taking STAAR Modified graduate under the Minimum High School Program (MHSP) • Course requirements specified in MHSP • Students taking STAAR Modified must be enrolled in courses with PEIMS numbers that identify the courses as “modified” substitutes for MHSP-required courses • 15% and cumulative score requirements are not applicable to STAAR Modified

42. STAAR Modified – Considerations • Content knowledge of special educators (and general educators) • Data collection processes for ARDC meetings • Multiple sources • Consider collecting data around readiness standards

43. STAAR Modified – Considerations • STAAR Modified Sample Items • Review IEP goals and objectives for TEKS base and links to grade level curriculum • Tiered support for teachers based on EOCs offered

44. STAAR for ELLs p. 5 http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/ell/

45. “ELL Yes!” STAAR for ELLs?

46. STAAR for ELLs • Final Commissioner’s Rules (12/22/2011) • ALL ELLs will participate in STAAR assessments . . . no exemptions • Which version of STAAR?

47. STAAR for ELLs (TEA FAQs – 08/26/2011 and 09/15/2011 PowerPoint) • Spanish STAAR – Grades 3-5 • STAAR L (for eligible ELLSs) • Grades 3-8 and STAAR/EOCs in • Math • Science • Social Studies • No STAAR L in Reading/Language Arts • STAAR • With linguistic accommodations

48. STAAR L ≠TAKS-LAT STAAR L • For eligible LEP students • Recent immigrants up to 3 years in U.S. schools or unschooled asylees or refugees up to 5 years in U.S. schools • Not demonstrated English proficiency in TELPAS Reading • Offered in Grades 3-8 and all EOCs in • Math • Science • Social Studies TAKS-LAT • For LPAC-Exempt students • Offered in grades 3-8 and 10 in • Reading/ELA • Math • Science

49. STAAR L Accommodations • Clarification of unfamiliar English • English clarification of words and language structures • Reading aloud of text • Bilingual Dictionary • Extra-time (same day) Computer-based in 2013 Provided by test administrator in 2012

50. STAARwith Linguistic Accommodations Reading/Language Arts • Various dictionaries • Extra time (same day) • Clarification in English of words • in prompt and • open ended reading questions Math, Science and Social Studies • Bilingual dictionary • Extra time (same day)