20144th Grade Writing Prompt StudyASSESSMENT/RESEARCH/EVALUATION DEPARTMENT
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
DISCLAIMER
This PowerPoint does not eliminate
your requirement to read the Test Administrator
Manuals.
READ THE MANUALS!!
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Overview of the Prompt Study
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
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Test Administration Manual
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
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
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
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
Test Security
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
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Test Security
Keep tests in locked storage when not in use
Immediately after session return test materials to the campus coordinator
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Confidentiality
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
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Confidentiality
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 documentsBefore, during or after a test administration
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Testing Irregularities
SERIOUS PROCEDURALSTUDENT CHEATING
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Serious Irregularities
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
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Procedural Irregularities
Eligibility Error IEP Implementation Issue Improper Accounting for Secure Materials Monitoring Error Other Procedural Errors
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
Summary of Responsibilities
TESTING COORDINATORS
TEST ADMINISTRATORS
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Summary of Responsibilities
CTC’s 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
Test Administrators (TA’s) Read manuals Review administration
directions Review and sign oath Prepare test environment Ensure proper testing
procedures Administer writing prompt
studyReport any irregularities to the CTC
immediately
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Prepare for Testing
TESTING ENVIRONMENTSEATING CHARTSMATERIALS
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Testing Environment
The room should be: Quiet Well-lighted Well-ventilated Comfortable
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Testing Environment
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
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Seating Chart Rule
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.
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Receive and Prepare Materials
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
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Monitor Test Administration
PROPER TESTING PROCEDURESBREAKSEMERGENCIESDEFECTIVE TEST MATERIALSANSWER STUDENT QUESTIONSCOLLECT TEST MATERIALS
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Proper Testing Procedures
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
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Proper Testing Procedures
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)
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Proper Testing Procedures
The use of cell phones or other two-way communication devices is prohibited 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.
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
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
Proper Testing Procedures
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
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Test Administrators - Verify, verify, verify!
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
Any concerns? - Inform the Campus Testing Coordinator ASAP!
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Dictionaries
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
Dictionary used in test day must be the same type of
dictionary used during instruction
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
During Test Administration
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
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Breaks
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
TA’s may allow students to take brief breaks during a session
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Know what to do about
Emergencies Transcribing Changing testing rooms Special test situations
Each campus will have to follow their own regulation in the event of an emergency situation
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Answer Student’s Questions
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
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Collect Test Materials
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.”
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Collect Test Materials
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
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
RETURNING MATERIALS
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Returning Materials to CTC/DTC 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
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Document Retention
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
Assessment/Research/Evaluation - Spring 2014
Any Questions?