The Testing Coordinator Connection
November 2021
Important Announcements
Students Can Choose Their Calculator for Digital STAAR Exams
- TEA confirmed that handheld graphing calculators, including the TI-Nspire™ and TI-84 Plus families, are still allowed on the Grade 8 Math and Algebra I online STAAR® exams. In addition, students may continue to use the embedded TI-84 Plus CE option.
Student Retester Information Posted in TIDE
- Re-testers are students who have not met the passing standard for the STAAR EOC assessments only.
TELPAS Eligibility
- To indicate that a student is eligible for the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS), districts must populate the Emergent Bilingual Indicator (LEP) Code field with a value of “1-Identified as Emergent Bilingual (EB)/English learner” in the Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE).
The system will automatically assign the correct test based on the student’s enrolled grade and Emergent Bilingual Indicator (LEP) Code value. The TELPAS Test Code field is no longer required and can be left blank when uploading or editing student data in TIDE.
District and Campus Coordinator Resources
Additional updates have been made to the 2021–2022 District and Campus Coordinator Resources. Refer to the What’s New page for a list of updates, which include a new Special Administration Request Decision Making Flowchart, an updated Special Administration of an Online Assessment page, information for how to indicate TAKS/TAAS/TEAMS in the Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE) for online testers, and the STAAR Oral and Signed Administrations Educator Guide for the 2021–2022 school year.
NEW WEBFORMS AVAILABLE IN TIDE
The following forms have been updated for the 2021–2022 school year and are available in TIDE under the Administration and Security Forms module.
- Accommodation Request
- Procedural Testing Irregularity
- Serious Testing Violation
- Security Oath for Superintendent Part I
- Security Oath for District Coordinator Part I
For questions or assistance regarding the information in this communication, contact Texas Testing Support at 833-601-8821, TexasTestingSupport@cambiumassessment.com, or via live chat at TexasAssessment.gov.
Proposed amendment to §101.3031, concerning required test administration procedures and training activities
Summary: The proposed amendment would modify the rule to implement Senate Bill 1267, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, which removed the requirement for annual security and test administration training for all test administration personnel.
Public Comment Period: October 15, 2021-November 15, 2021. A form for submitting public comments is available on the proposed commissioner of education rules web page.
Proposed Effective Date: February 8, 2022
Updated Calendar of Events Posted
Access the updated Calendar of Events for 2021-2022 here
Mark Your Calendar!
Data Cleanup Overview
November 18th 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- Participants of this webinar will learn information on the Data Cleanup module in TIDE and how they can use it to resolve test discrepancies.
- Register here
December STAAR EOC Test Materials
November 15th-19th
- Test administrator manuals will arrive in district for December STAAR EOC
- Districts will receive initial shipment of secure and nonsecure paper test materials, including preprinted preID labels.
TELPAS Alternate - Student Registration and Test Attribute Information in TIDE
- As applicable, the number of students registered in TIDE at the end of this window will be used to determine quantities of OBs delivered in a district's shipment.
TELPAS - Student Registration and Test Attribute Information in TIDE
- The number of students registered in TIDE at the end of this window will be used to determine quantities of TELPAS TAMs in a district's shipment.
Ascender Update Information
STAAR and Pre-coding Updates
TCC is aware of the test precode deadlines:
- TELPAS and TELPAS Alternate, Submission window 11/5/2021 to 11/19/2021
- STAAR Alternate 2, 3-8 and EOC, Submission window 12/13/2021 to 1/5/2021
- STAAR Interim 3-8 and EOC, Submission window 9/3/2021 to 12/17/2021
- STAAR 3-8, Submission window 2/3/2021 to 2/17/2021
Our teams have been working on the extracts that are due next, TELPAS and TELPAS Alternate. Currently, we are on target to release the first week of November. The extract for STAAR Interim 3-8 and EOC will be released during the month of November.
Recorded Webinars
The following recorded training webinars are available in the Learning Management System (LMS). In addition to the recording, the original PowerPoint presentations are available.
2021-2022 Education Service Center Testing Coordinator Training:
- Section I - Student Assessment Updates
Section II - Assessments for Special Populations
Section III - Test Security
Section IV - Test Administration Procedures Overview
Section V - Key Reminders for a Successful Test Administration
2021 STAAR Released Online Practice Tests
The 2021 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) released tests are available as online practice tests in the Practice Tests Site. The online practice tests familiarize students with the general tools, designated supports, and accessibility features that may appear in online tests. The text-to-speech functionality for these practice tests will be available in December. All 2018 and 2019 STAAR released tests are also available as online practice tests.
December 2021 STAAR Administration
- Pre-ID labels are sent in Campus Box 1.
- The pre-ID labels are not subject-specific, so test administrators may use any of the student labels provided for students eligible for paper test(s).
- Unused labels should be returned with nonscorable materials.
Cambium is working on a process for sending pre-ID labels for only the number of tests a student is eligible for in future administrations.