EOC Accommodated
What is it? Who qualifies? How can we prepare our students?
What do you already know?
In a small group, please sort the pink cards into two groups, "STAAR A: Real or Not Real."
What makes a student eligible to take STAAR A?
Special Education
The disability does not drive the testing decision.
Section 504
Student is currently receiving 504 services for dyslexia or a related disorder. The related disorders all start with "dys." This does not include students with ADHD.
Content Specific Accomms.
Documented proof that the student routinely uses at least 2 of the content specific instructional accommodations. TEA defines "routine" as a student having enough practice with a support that she or he can use it independently.
What do the instructional accommodations actually look like in my classroom?
- Examples of replicating the STAAR A eligibility instructional accommodations
- Use of technology to allow students access to oral accommodations
So how did it go last year?
How did you prepare your students for this test last year?
- How did you address the new level of rigor?
- How did you address the fact that this test is on a computer?
- What worked? What didn't work?
What can we do to help prepare our students for the test this year?
Pearson is no longer responsible for managing the STAAR A test. ETS has been awarded the contract for almost all STAAR assessments. ETS contracted a specific organization to create the online platform in October 2015. Therefore, no online practice site exists as of yet. TEA has announced that a practice site will become available in January. (Click here to see examples of what it looked like last year.)
- Providing authentic opportunities for students to access computers during classroom instruction. (How do you solve math problems if you do not have a paper copy of the problem in front of you? How do you use your reading strategies if the text is on a computer screen? How do you complete all stages of the writing process if all you have is a computer and a piece of scratch paper?)
- Math has access to online learning opportunities: Think Through Math and Big Ideas online text.
- Providing multiple opportunities to navigate the online practice system once it opens in January. (It is a good idea to allow your students to access the middle school version as well the high school version.)
- Ongoing formative assessments to determine student gaps in on-grade level knowledge and skills with data driven interventions.
- DMAC and Schoolnet have the ability to create and deliver online teacher created assessments.
- Adobe will allow you to add text support pop-up boxes to "clarify or reword" text.
- Pre-accommodate reading passages that you know are above your students' reading levels by adding pictures, definitions (in the margin), and bold text to draw student attention to important details.
- Activate text-to-speech controls or extensions to allow students to independently listen to text.
- Routine use of supports like supplemental aids to support memory retention of very complex TEKS.
For ongoing support please contact:
Liz Nix
Special Education Curriculum Specialist
Email: liz.nix@austinisd.org
Phone: 512-414-9608