TEST SECURITY, SPED Accommodations, STAAR and TAKS Training

1. CANUTILLOINDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTFebruary 2012 TEST SECURITY,SPED Accommodations, STAAR and TAKS Training

2. TEST SECURITY,TAKS, STAAR & TELPAS Training CANUTILLOINDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTFebruary 2012

3. This training does NOT take the place of reading the appropriate manuals.

4. TAKS SURVIVAL KIT

5. STAAR SURVIVAL KIT

6. STAAR DELUXE SURVIVAL KIT LIMITED SUPPLIES ARE AVAIALABLE OF STAAR DELUXE SURVIVAL KIT

7. Significant Changes to the Texas Student Assessment Program 7

8. Policy and Procedure Highlights • Testing Materials • Grade 3 students record answers on separate answer document, not scoreable test booklet. YES!!! • Separate test booklets and answer documents for each EOC • subject area • Manuals • STAAR District and Campus Coordinator Manual (DCCM) • STAAR Test Administrator Manuals now combined • - Grades 3–5 • - Grades 6–8 • - EOC 8

9. 2012 Manuals 2012 District and Campus Coordinator Manual - STAAR - TELPAS 9

10. 2012 Manuals • Key Changes to the • 2012 District and Campus Coordinator Manual • Approximately half the length of last year’s coordinator manual • DTC and CTC activities • interwoven • Limited to action items • Supporting material moved to Web • “Notes” column with live links 10

11. 2012 Manuals • DCCM Design • Enhancements • Uniform style • Streamlined and simplified • content (bullet points and • subheads) • Action-oriented checklists • embedded in text • (also available on website) • Activities are designated “DC,” “CC,” or “DC/CC” • “Notes” column for jotting down information 11

12. 2012 Manuals • DCCM Online • Enhancements • Icons indicate additional resources • - Calendar of Events • - additional information available online • - TexasAssessment website • - Coordinator Manual Resources • Icons include live, light-blue links underneath them for accessing other resources 12

13. 2012 Manuals • DCCMResources Pages • DCCM posted • Online resources as noted in • the "Notes" column of the • DCCM • Some materials available only online include: - Checklists for STAAR and TELPAS administrators - Seating charts - Planning Checklist for Campus Coordinator Training - Diagram of shipping box contents - Diagram of how to pack materials for return 13

14. 2012 Manuals • STAAR Test Administrator Manuals • Three Test Administrator Manuals • - Grades 3-5 • - Grades 6-8 • - End-of-Course • Include general information and • test administration directions for • STAAR, STARR Spanish, STAAR L, • and STAAR Modified • (STAAR Alternate, TELPAS, and TAKS manuals are separate) • Will only be shipped once • Due in districts by February 24, 2012 • Must be retained for later administrations 14

15. 2012 Manuals • Test Administrator Manuals New Look • New styles also applied to • Test Administrator Manuals • Fewer scripts covering multiple subjects and programs • To accommodate some differences in programs, the new manual will use callout boxes 15

16. 2012 Manuals • Test AdministratorManuals New Look • Wider boxes have program-specific and subject specific instructions • Please retain your manuals for use throughout the testing year!! 16

17. Test Security

18. New to Test Security • Oaths: Test Administrators, Materials Handlers, and • Technology Support • Required to sign only one oath for 2012 testing year • (exception STAAR Alternate and TELPAS) • Required to initial and sign oath only after training • Additional section to be signed for Viewing Secure Test Materials • Separate oaths for test administrators and technology staff • Located in Test Administrator Manuals (soon online) 18

19. Time Related Issues • Elementary School begin testing at 8:30 - 11:00 / 1:45 - 1:15. • Middle School begin testing at 8:45 • High School begin testing at 8:35 • Time begins after the directions are read and test administrator tells students to begin working on their tests • A student who arrives after testing has begun may be tested if sufficient time remains to allow the full four hours and the student has not had contact with other students. • Breaks DO NOT stop the clock (water breaks, bathroom breaks) • The clock only stops for lunch. • Clock will stop for students who go to the nurse for medical reasons (contact John). • Communicate (orally or in writing) the amount of time left to test in one-hour intervals and shorter intervals the last hour 19

20. Time Related Issues TAKS tests: time is still unlimited TELPAS: time still unlimited STAAR EOC: 4 hour time limits 20

21. Answer Documents • Students must record all responses on their answer documents before the end of the four-hour time period. • If answers are not bubbled within the four hours, transcription will not be allowed. • Test will be marked “S” for score • Will result in a testing irregularity requiring incident report with documentation from teacher and campus coordinator. • Making students mark the answer in the booklet first, then on answer documents, may set them up to not finish. • Once the four-hour time period has ended administrators will instruct students to put pencils down and close booklets. 21

22. 2012 Highlights • Seating charts • - require start and stop times • - record names of all assigned test administrators • - districts keep for five years • Honor statements in test booklets (High Schools) • - STAAR, STAAR L, and STAAR Modified EOC exams • Maintain test security materials for 5 years • - signed test administrator and technology staff oaths • - seating charts • Investigations • - conduct as quickly and thoroughly as possible in order to ensure • that state investigations, sanctions, and corrective actions are • conducted in a fair, expeditious, and equitable manner 22

23. Conduct training sessions Verify attendance Retain attendance sign-in sheets Retain agendas and training materials What to emphasize in training

24. Preparing for Testing • Read the manuals. • Inventory test materials; resolve shortages.(After you sign, there will be a 24 hour inventory grace period) • Store materials properly. • Verify students’ testing requirements. • Communicate local policies and procedures (e.g., cell phone policies, testing disruptions, handling problems). • Read the manuals!

25. Oversight during Testing • Verify that everyone has started at the assigned time. • Verify that each student receives correct assessment. • Verify test administrators are actively monitoring. • Verify seating charts have been completed and start time has been noted.

26. Oversight during Testing All testing personnel must understand that they may NOT: • Provide assistance • View tests without authorization (this includes transcription) • Discuss confidential student information • Reinforce or check for strategies.

27. After Testing • Account for all test materials – within 30 minutes of end time. • No scoring of student responses • No erasing stray marks or darkening ovals • No unauthorized viewing • Verify correct packing of materials • Collect and submit any necessary documentation in connection with testing irregularities

28. TAMS Security Reminders • NEVERgive your login to another individual. • If someone else is helping you, NEVERlog in and then leave them to work unsupervised. • Paraprofessionals cannot have a TAMS login. • These guidelines apply to testing and preparation for TELPAS, Online TAKS Retests, and Online EOC.

29. Testing Irregularities Potential Referral to Educator Certification and Standards (DCCM - pg. O-20) • Directly or indirectly assisting students with responses to test questions • Tampering with student responses • Falsifying TELPAS holistic ratings or STAAR Alternate student performance data • Viewing secure content or STAAR Alt performance data during, or after an assessment (unless specifically authorized) • Scoring student tests, either formally or informally • Duplicating, recording, or capturing electronically secure test content without permission from TEA

30. Testing Irregularities Other types of errors include: (DCCM - pg. O-20 & 21) • Eligibility Error • IEP implementation issue • Improper accounting for secure materials • Monitoring error • Procedural error

31. Reporting Testing Irregularities • Each person participating in the state assessment program is directly responsible for reporting immediately any violation or suspected violation of test security or confidentiality. • Campus staff should notify their campus or district testing coordinator if they witness an irregularity or suspect one has occurred, and district testing coordinators should in turn notify TEA

32. Reporting SERIOUS Irregularities Reporting serious testing violations requires: • An incident report (submitted via the Online Incident Reporting Process by the DTC) • Typed and signed statement(s) from the individual(s) involved • A district determination in the matter • A Corrective Action Plan

33. Reporting SERIOUS Irregularities Written Statements Must Include: • Name, title, and role during testing • How the individual was responsible for or involved in the incident • A description of the incident from the individual’s perspective (educators implicated in the report of having committed a serious testing irregularity should include a response to each specific allegation) • The individual’s signature • The date the statement was generated

34. Disciplinary Actions Taken AgainstStudents for Cheating on State Assessments • If students are caught cheating on a state assessment, the district is required to invalidate the student’s test (score code of “O”). • Additional disciplinary action may be taken at the local level in accordance with district policy. • CTCs will complete the form to report the student incident, and DTC will submit report via the online system. CTC’s DO NOT Submit the form online.

35. Disciplinary Actions Taken AgainstStudents for Cheating on State Assessments • IF it is determined that adult testing personnel contributed to, caused, or did not detect the cheating due to inadequate monitoring, submission of a separate irregularity report will be required to report that part of the incident.

36. Preventing Testing Irregularities Train carefully Allow adequate time for training Issue manuals before training Train as many staff as possible Monitor & observe during testing Practice good inventory control at ALL levels Be available for questions

37. Security Reminders Know your responsibilities as the CTC– use checklists in manual Emphasize importance of training to all staff Account for ALL test materials Ensure proper storage of materials Verify precoded documents/labels Ensure each student receives the correct test & test materials Emphasize & verify active monitoring Account for all materials

38. Materials Make sure office staff knows procedures for receiving secure materials. • Notify Campus Coordinator immediately • Where to store • Materials should be counted and verified within 24 hours. Notify DTC if short. • Is storage area secure with limited access? • Is storage area large enough to store materials? • Materials need to be locked up nightly, but not repacked in boxes.

39. Training • Principals should attend training. • Allow adequate time for training. • All faculty should be trained in case of emergencies. • Staff needs to be trained on security general administration prior to each administration.

40. Monitoring • Administrators should actively be monitoring hallways and classrooms. • Are teachers actively monitoring? • Is staff assigned to monitor hallways and other areas? • Have arrangements been made to give teachers breaks? • Have arrangements been made to handle students during breaks and lunch?

41. Module 1: Active Monitoring Outline: • What is active monitoring? • Importance of active monitoring • Monitoring expectations for test administrators • Monitoring outside of the classroom • Improper monitoring • Detecting improper student behavior • Risk factors associated with improper student behavior • What constitutes a blank answer document? • Blank answer document implications

42. Module Requirements Training Modules Training Modules Website • Campus Coordinators • ALL THREE MODULES • Test Administrators • Modules 1 and 2 • All Campus Personnel Involved in Testing • Module 1 • All viewing should be done by March 9, 2012 • Campus Coordinator keep certificate • Individual VS. Group Training Certificate

43. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL CAMPUS COORDINATOR • Allow your coordinator time necessary to verify precoded information. • Allow them the time necessary to prepare before, during and after testing. • Provide them qualified help. • Check in with them occasionally and see what they need. • Provide them adequate storage space. • Do not assign campus coordinator as a test administrator (includes any overflow groups) • PAT THEM ON THE BACK AND TELL THEM WHAT A GREAT JOB THEY’RE DOING!!

45. Accommodations Update

46. Webpage Updates • Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (SWD) taking STAAR, STAAR Spanish, STAAR Modified, STAAR L, and TELPAS • What will be posted? • Critical Information about Accommodations for SWD • Optional Test Administration Procedures and Materials • The Accommodation Triangle • SPED Accommodations

47. Will test administrators be allowed to read any word in the selection that they already read in the pre-reading text like in TAKS-M? No. This is a difference between TAKS-M and STAAR Modified reading tests. • Test administrators (TA) may read the pre-reading text to studentsbut may not read anything in the reading selection. • The TAmustread aloud the pre-reading text andmayread the test questions and answer choices if the student is eligible for an oral administration. • Test administration directions will explain that the TA can read the pre-reading text as many times as necessary, as long as it is prior to the students reading the selections.

48. Is it a testing irregularity to give STAAR Modified to a student who doesn’t meet the participation requirements? • Yes. If the student was administered the wrong assessment, the district testing coordinator must contact TEA to receive instructions on how to • Fix the error • Give the correct test • Document the irregularity • There are no further ramifications once the error is reported • and has been appropriately corrected.

49. Does an ARD committee need to complete the participation requirements and retain the document if a student is receiving modified instruction in a course in which STAAR Modified is not available? • Yes. Applies to English III, World History, U.S. History, Chemistry, Physics, Algebra II • If the student meets participation requirements, then he/she does not test since an assessment is not available. • If the participation requirements are not reviewed or the answer to any of the three questions is No, the student takes STAAR.

50. Optional Test Administration Procedures & Materials What procedures and materials are available to ALL students? • Includes some things that have been called testing accommodations in previous years • Related to best practices for instruction • Available to any student who needs them • Not intended for every student in a class or disability category • Not recorded on answer document • Available on test administration materials web pages as well as accommodation resources