The Testing Coordinator Connection
November 2022
Reminder
Dec EOC
Technology staff should perform system checks on testing devices by November 7, 2022, to prepare for December online testing.
Proctored vs Unproctored Zoom with Cambium
New STAAR Question Types Roll Out in Spring 2023
After extensive feedback from Texas educators, students, and parents, new question types will be incorporated into the spring administration of the STAAR beginning with the 2023 administration. No changes will occur on STAAR tests administered in December 2022. The incorporation of new question types will align the summative tests to effective classroom instruction and put a cap on the number of multiple-choice questions.
STAAR Interim
UPDATE STUDENT ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION IN TIDE
District personnel only need to upload student information into the Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE) once, at the beginning of the year. Before testing, all student records must be added to TIDE either individually or in bulk as a file upload. Refer to the Upload Student Information into TIDE of the District and Campus Coordinator Resources for more information.
In addition, while uploading students you should mark students eligible for each administration using the following fields.
State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®)
o If a student needs an above-grade test, then the specific test should be selected in the STAAR 3–8 Above Grade field.
o Any student who needs to take a STAAR end-of-course (EOC) assessment must have the appropriate eligibility field marked “Yes” for the specific course.
STAAR Alternate 2
o Any student who needs to take STAAR Alternate 2 must have the following fields set to “Yes”.
- Special Ed Indicator Code
- STAAR Alternate 2 field
o In addition, any student who needs to take a STAAR Alternate 2 EOC assessment must have the STAAR Alternate 2 EOC Eligibility fields for the specific course marked “Yes”.
The STAAR Alternate 2 Paper Format field has been added to TIDE. The STAAR Alternate 2 Paper Format defaults to "Regular Print." For any students who require a large print version of STAAR Alternate 2, "Large Print" must be selected from the dropdown.
All indicators must be marked prior to January 6, 2023, in order for districts to receive paper materials in the initial order shipment. Additional orders must be placed for students whose STAAR Alternate 2 indicators are added after the due date.
TELPAS
Any student who needs to take TELPAS must have the Emergent Bilingual Indicator Code set to “1”.
TELPAS ALT
Any student who needs to take TELPAS Alternate must have the
o Emergent Bilingual Indicator Code set to "1",
o Special Ed Indicator Code set to “Yes”, and
o TELPAS Alternate Eligibility field set to "Yes".
FAQ
Q: Will SST be available on all SCR across all subjects?
A: Yes SCR and ECR will have STT
Q: Will the SST feature work on all places students can type i.e sticky notes, notepad, text entries, etc.?
A: It will only work on the SCR and ECR.
Q: Is there anything we have to do in the registration process to indicate that we will transcribe their scores in the DEI? On paper tests, we wrote "transcribed by" on the top of the answer of the document. How will that work with the DEI system?
A: Entering in DEI will follow the same process as basic transcribing, so the transcriber will write their name on the student test booklet as indicated in the policy doc.
Q: Page 29 of the TA Manual states, "If students need assistance reading the onscreen directions, test administrators may refer to the appropriate sections in Appendix C." However, Appendix C is for Special Administration of Online Assessments. What page should a TA refer to if a student has questions about the onscreen directions?
A: Refer to Appendix C for students online; they can read what is in there; we are not encouraging reading on the screen, but it is available there for those online students. Next few weeks you will be able to see the updated testing directions from the screen.