What Every Parent Needs To Know: How to help in the transition to STAAR

1. What Every Parent Needs To Know:How to help in the transition to STAAR

2. A new vertical state system Legislation requires a system of performance standards that are linked from grade to grade, starting with postsecondary-readiness performance standards down through grade 3

3. New Test – New Opportunities

4. We have been down this path before! And each time we needed a little time to learn the new system. And each test added a new layer of rigor and a new set of expectations for our students and for our teachers. And each time we have succeeded! And we will again…

5. Let’s look at the tests our kids took before STAAR.

6. TABS Exit Level Math Texas Assessment of Basic Skills 1980 - 1985 • One Step: • Fewest barrels

7. TEAMS Exit Level Math Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills 1986-1990 • Two Steps: • Find point on graph • Multiply • 30 pupils x $300 = $9,000

8. TAAS Exit Level Math Texas Assessment of Academic Skills 1990-2002 • Three Steps: • Find paper • on pie chart • Divide tons of • paper by total • tons: • 72/180 • 3. Convert to 40%

9. TAKS Exit Level Math Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills 2003-2011 • Five Steps: • Add all votes • 240 + 420 + 180 + 300 + 60 = 1,200 • 2. Determine which student finished 3rd • (Bridget: 240 votes) • 3. Determine Bridget’s %age of votes • 240 / 1,200 = 20% • Know that a pie chart has 360 total degrees • Determine 20% of 360 degrees: • .20 x 360 = 72

10. Five Steps: • The student must know how to apply the • quadratic formula to find the value of the • discrimantb²-4ac • Find quadratic equation on formula chart: • If b² - 4ac > 0 • there are two real number roots of the equation • and the graph of the parabola crosses the • x-axis at those roots • If b² - 4ac = 0 • there is a “multiple” or repeated root of the • equation and the vertex of the graph of the • parabola touches the x-axis at that root. • If b² - 4ac < 0 • the roots of the equation are imaginary numbers • and the graph of the parabola does not • intersect the x-axis STAAR Exit Level Math? State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness 2012-?

11. What do we know about STAAR? • Will begin in 2011-12 • Grades 3 through 8 • First year 9th graders • 10th and 11th graders will still take TAKS

12. What tests will students have to take? The high school level STAAR tests are COURSE tests, NOT grade level tests

13. STAAR is an assessment of ACADEMIC READINESS

14. What does it mean to be an assessment of academic readiness?

15. What did TAKS ask? Did our students learn what they were supposed to learn in their current grade or course?

16. What does STAAR ask? • Did our students learn what they were supposed to learn in their current grade or course? • Are they ready for the next grade or course? • And the one after that?

17. And ultimately…ARE OUR STUDENTS READY FOR COLLEGE OR A CAREER?

18. What’s tested on STAAR? • The TEKS - the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills • Readiness standards: • 30-35% of the assessed curriculum / 60-65% of the STAAR test • Supporting standards • 60-65% of the assessed curriculum / 30-35% of the STAAR test • Process Standards – the skills – assessed with other standards (Ex: map skills, math tools, problem-solving)

19. What does rigor mean? STAAR will be significantly more “rigorous” than TAKS

20. What does “more rigorous” mean? The questions are more complex and require more thinking. What is most important for a student to learn in a grade level will have more questions on the test. The test will be longer.

21. STAAR is a longer test… • Math Gr. 3 -8 = +6 questions • Reading 3-8 =+4 questions • Writing = +1 additional composition • Science= +4 questions • Social Studies Gr 8 =+4 questions • EOC = +2 to 13 questions

22. STAAR requires more THINKING!

23. Will there really be a difference? TAKS Item STAAR Item • 60 x 70 = 4200 • 4200 ÷ 175 = 24 • 24 x 7 = 168 • Bubble in “G” • 23 - -12 = 35 • Bubble in “D”

24. Comparison of Processing Skills

25. Reading Schematic Grade 7

26. Reading Schematic Grade 8

27. Writing Schematic Grade 7

28. Writing Schematic Grade 7

29. Science – Grade 8 • Diesel fuel is used in the engines of the machines and trucks at the quarry. Which of these is the main energy transformation as the fuel is used by the engines? • Electrical energy is converted to • heat energy. • Heat energy is converted to • potential energy. • Electrical energy is converted to • kinetic energy. • Chemical energy is converted to • kinetic energy. TAKS 2006- 6.9A STAAR Sample – 6.9C

30. Science – Grade 8 • Diesel fuel is used in the engines of the machines and trucks at the quarry. Which of these is the main energy transformation as the fuel is used by the engines? • Electrical energy is converted to • heat energy. • Heat energy is converted to • potential energy. • Electrical energy is converted to • kinetic energy. • Chemical energy is converted to • kinetic energy. TAKS 2006- 6.9A STAAR Sample – 6.9C

31. Social Studies – Grade 8 President Andrew Jackson’s policy toward Native Americans primarily consisted of: A reaching agreement with the courts concerning Native American territory B removing and relocating Native Americans C paying fair market value for Native American lands D building schools and creating employment opportunities for Native Americans TAKS 2006- 6.9A STAAR Sample – 8.5E

32. What will it take to pass STAAR? • Students will have to get more items correct than on TAKS. • The passing standard will first be established for English IIIand Algebra II • Linked to college readiness • Linked by grade level down to 3rd grade

33. STAAR . . . some changes Time limits • All STAAR assessments Grade 3 through EOC will have a four hour time limit Accommodations for dyslexia - There is no longer a bundle: students served as dyslexic will be eligible for extended time (until the end of the school day) and to have questions and answers read aloud

34. What about tests for students served in special education? Accommodations will be allowed on STAAR, but have not yet been defined or clarified. STAAR Modified will be available for students who meet the criteria. STAAR Alternate will be available for students who have significant cognitive disabilities.

35. When will I know how my student did? • Standards will be set after the students are tested for the first time in the Spring of 2012. • Raw scores will be the only information provided to schools, students, and parents. • Ex: Hannah got 40 out of 56 correct on 8th grade math. • Pass/fail performance will not be released until the Fall of 2012 except for EOC courses.

36. What about the SSI requirement for 8th grade? • Because there will be no performance standards in place for grades 3–8 in the 2011–2012 school year, students cannot be held subject to state assessment SSI requirements. • Each school district will be required however to determine criteria to use in place of state assessments (grades, teacher recommendation, local assessments, raw score).

37. What if my student is in Algebra I? Students in grades 3–8 who are also enrolled in a high school course will take that STAAR EOC assessment as required for graduation. A grade 8 student enrolled in Algebra I will take STAAR grade 8 reading, science, and social studies as well as STAAR Algebra I. Gregory-Portland school district policy has determined that this grade 8 student will also take the STAAR grade 8 mathematics assessment. Students in grades 5 and 8 may not be denied promotion based on unsatisfactory performance on STAAR EOC assessments.

38. Algebra I (cont) The score a student receives on a STAAR EOC assessment is required to count for 15% of the student's final grade in the course. A student enrolled in Algebra I in grade 8 is accruing high school credits and is therefore subject to the EOC requirements for graduation in this course. All EOC Algebra I assessments will be administered online, unless a student has a disability that would keep them from participating in this mode.

39. Algebra I / EOC / Graduation Beginning with Freshmen in 2011-2012, the graduation requirement will be STAAR End-of-course

40. How can I help? • Vocabulary – help your student practice the key vocabulary of each content area, it is vital to their ability to be successful. • Study skills – make sure your student is developing skills that will help them be successful on the STAAR and in their classes (Ex: homework, review of foundational skills, reading regularly). • Communication – with your student and their teacher. • Make sure you know what they are expected to be learning – support the teacher with activities at home and keeping students accountable for their learning.

41. Where can I find more information? • GPISD Website: Departments – Curriculum and Assessment www.g-pisd.org • TEA Website www.tea.state.tx.us • Teacher Websites

42. How can I help? • Attendance – the curriculum is more rigorous and at a faster pace than ever before, being absent puts your student at a serious disadvantage • Monitor homework completion – remember this is a timed test – students need to be practicing on completing assignments in a reasonable amount of time – work completed at school will be timed as well and may affect grades.

43. Questions???