2014 4th Grade Writing Prompt Study

1. 20144th Grade Writing Prompt Study Assessment/Research/Evaluation Department

2. DISCLAIMER This PowerPoint does not eliminate your requirement to read the Test Administrator Manuals. READ THE MANUALS!! Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

3. Selected campuses will participate in English version All 4th grade students who will take the STAAR Spanish grade 4 writing are required to participate Most students will be able to complete this study in approximately one to two hours; however, students may have additional time if needed Test is composed of one essay and some multiple choice questions Test will be administered on March 3rd Overview of the Prompt Study Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

4. Be sure to address the following information during the campus training • Responsibilities of testing personnel • Test security and confidentiality requirements • An overview of the STAAR grade 4 writing prompt study • Preparation for test sessions • Information about monitoring and completing test sessions • Test administration directions • Sign oaths Test Administration Manual Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

5. Responsibilities of Testing Personnel • Have the test administration directions and read them PRIOR TO and DURING the prompt study • All testing personnel involved in the study must receive a copy of the administration directions • CTC’s must be on hand to answer question during the administration Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

6. Test Security and Confidentiality Each person participating in the state assessment is required to maintain and preserve the security and confidentiality of this information . Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

7. All test materials must be handled in strict accordance with the test administration directions and the 2013-2014 Test Security Supplement All testing personnel must be trained in STAAR security and confidentiality requirements Test administrators MUST hold the educator credentials detailed in the manual Test Administrators must sign a security oath Test Security Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

8. Keep tests in locked storage when not in use Immediately after session return test materials to the campus coordinator Test Security Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

9. Confidentiality refers to protecting the contents of each test booklet and answer document • Do not reveal or answer any questions relating to the content of the test at any time • Do not • review student responses • change a student’s answer in the answer document • instruct a student to change their answer • Be sure to administer the test exactly as instructed in the manual Confidentiality Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

10. Each person with access to test materials shall maintain and preserve the security and confidential integrity of the test. • No unauthorized viewing, discussing, scoring the contents of a test at any time • No one must view • the test booklets • answer documents Before, during or after a test administration Confidentiality Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

11. Testing Irregularities Serious Procedural Student cheating Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

12. Directly or indirectly assisting students with responses to test questions • Tampering with student responses • Viewing secure test content before, during, or after an administration • Discussing secure test content, student responses, or student performance • Scoring student tests, either formally or informally • Duplicating, recording, or capturing electronically secure test content without permission from TEA Serious Irregularities Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

13. Eligibility Error • IEP Implementation Issue • Improper Accounting for Secure Materials • Monitoring Error • Other Procedural Errors Procedural Irregularities All suspected incidences of testing irregularities should be reported immediately to the Campus Testing Coordinator, who will submit reports to the District Testing Coordinator. Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

14. Summary of Responsibilities Testing Coordinators Test administrators Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

15. Summary of Responsibilities CTC’s Test Administrators (TA’s) Read manuals Review administration directions Review and sign oath Prepare test environment Ensure proper testing procedures Administer writing prompt study • Be familiar with test administration directions • Train staff to carry out their duties • Ensure oaths have been signed • Identify all students who will participate • Schedule and prepare the rooms for the study Report any irregularities to the CTC immediately Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

16. Prepare for Testing Testing environment Seating charts Materials Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

17. The room should be: • Quiet • Well-lighted • Well-ventilated • Comfortable Testing Environment Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

18. Have all bulletin boards and instructional aids covered or removed Have “TESTING-DO NOT DISTURB” signs posted Have a trained TA present at ALL times Have enough space for each student to work without distraction No characteristic of the room’s environment should hinder any student’s test performance Testing Environment Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

19. Seating Charts are required for all test administrations. • Seating Charts must include: • The first and last names of each student and their locations in the room • The first and last names of all test administrators/monitors involved in the session. • Location of testing session(district, campus, room) and a brief description of the testing area (classroom, library, etc.) • The assessment being given including grade and subject. • Starting and ending time of the session • Ending time for each student. Seating Chart Rule Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

20. Test booklets will be issued out to test administrators and recorded on the Materials Control Form • An initial in the Materials Control form signify that the TA has received the test booklets and has signed the oath • Remember - Test Security Modules must be viewed by all personnel NEW to testing • Campus Testing Coordinators must ensure the test administrators have all the required materials on the day of testing • Two No.2 pencils with erasers per student • One test booklet • One answer document per student • One answer document for demonstration purposes Receive and Prepare Materials Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

21. Monitor Test Administration Proper testing procedures Breaks Emergencies Defective test materials Answer student questions Collect test materials Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

22. A trained TA must be present in the testing room at all times There must be at least one TA for every 30 students The TA may read aloud or sign the writing prompt to any student who requests this assistance Reading or discussing student composition is not allowed at any time If using electronic devices, features such as spell check and word predictability must be disabled unless the student is eligible for the spelling assistance accommodation Proper Testing Procedures Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

23. The TA must NOT • Elaborate on prompts • Give students opening and/or closing sentence • Give students an outline for organizing their compositions • Give students ideas about how to develop their compositions • Translate the prompts into another language (except sign language) Proper Testing Procedures Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

24. The use of cell phones or other two-way communication devices isprohibited during testing for students and test administrators • The reason is that cell phones can…. • disrupt the testing environment • be used to cheat by obtaining unauthorized assistance on test content by students, and can • be used to image secure tests and compromise the confidentiality of the test with their camera feature by students and teachers. Proper Testing Procedures Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

25. Proper Testing Procedures Active Monitoring Means: • Watching students during testing. The focus of the teacher’s attention is on the students and not elsewhere. • Walking around to better observe what students are doing. (Are students… marking answers on the answer document, not cheating, not using cell phones, not talking or communicating with other students, etc.?) Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

26. Hand out pencils and answer documents to students PRIOR to reading the directions Remind students periodically to record their responses on their answer document Encourage the students to stay on task Remind students to erase any stray marks Monitor students so that they do not talk to one another Test a student who arrives after the session has begun if sufficient time remains in the day to provide the student with the allowed time for testing (however, student may test only if he or she has not interacted with another student who has already completed the same test Proper Testing Procedures Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

27. During test day, if you think the student is • Taking the wrong test (English/Spanish) • Should not be using an accommodation • Should be using an accommodation that they were not given Test Administrators - Verify, verify, verify! Any concerns? - Inform the Campus Testing Coordinator ASAP! Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

28. ELL’s are eligible to use dictionaries as a linguistic accommodation in grades 3-12 Dictionaries are an allowable accommodation in an ELA for eligible students with special needs in grades 3-5 Dictionaries Dictionary used in test day must be the same type of dictionary used during instruction Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

29. Ensure each student receives the correct test booklet and answer document • Ensure all Test Administrators are actively monitoring at all times • Ensure all testing personnel understand that they may NOT: • Provide assistance • View the tests without authorization • Discuss confidential student information • Check for strategies During Test Administration Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

30. Breaks are not mandatory During breaks students must not discuss the content of the test If a student leaves the testing room for an extended period of time and returns, the CTC must investigate and determine whether confidentiality has been breached Breaks TA’s may allow students to take brief breaks during a session Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

31. Emergencies Transcribing Changing testing rooms Special test situations Each campus will have to follow their own regulation in the event of an emergency situation Know what to do about Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

32. TA’s may answer questions bout the test directions or procedures. • TA’s may respond: “I can’t answer that for you; just do the best you can.” • TA’s are NEVER allowed to answer any questions related to the content of the test itself. • Unless specifically directed to do so, TA’s are NOT allowed to: • Translate test questions or passages • Rephrase or add information to questions • View or discuss test questions with anyone • Score test questions and discuss with students how they performed Answer Student’s Questions Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

33. TA’s should quickly scan answer documents only to verify that responses are marked • TA’s may not look at or comment on answers to individual test questions or point out individually skipped test questions. • Before a student leaves the room, the TA must scan the completed answer document. If the student has not done so, the TA must say, “You have not recorded your responses on the answer document. Please go back and mark your answers on it now.” Collect Test Materials Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

34. Make sure the name of each student is written on his or her test booklet before collecting it Remove the answer documents from the test booklets Collect all scratch paper used Verify that all test booklets and answer documents are accounted for Ensure that the TEST TAKEN INFO field on the student’s answer document has been completed Collect Test Materials Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

35. RETURNING MATERIALS Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

36. TA’s must return all test materials to the CTC immediately after the test session • TA should: • Return all answer documents • Return any voided answer documents • Return unused answer documents • Return used and unused test booklets • Sign the oath upon completion of testing (if applicable) • All materials are due back to the A.R.E. warehouse by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2014 Returning Materials to CTC/DTC Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

37. Campuses are required to maintain the following documents for a period of 5 years following a test administration • Testing irregularity and investigation documentation • Inventory and shipping records • Signed security oaths for all testing personnel • Seating charts • Miscellaneous mandatory testing forms Document Retention Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014

38. Any Questions? Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014