Ask the Experts
Why should teachers use SD-STARS?
SD-STARS is not a one-size-fits-all option. What works for one district may not work for another.
One of the reasons teachers may use SD-STARS is to look at state assessment results. SD-STARS contains many reports that look at ELA, math, and science state assessments. One such report is the Achievement Cut Score report that helps teachers identify students who are just barely or just below a certain level (ex: Level 3). SD-STARS also contains English language proficiency results for English learners and many reports display alternate assessment data for special education students.
But there are reasons a teacher may use SD-STARS, even if they don’t teach a grade level that takes the state assessments.
SD-STARS contains multiple attendance reports. K-12 teachers can use SD-STARS to look for students who have absences at the end of September and see if there is an underlying reason for the absences. They can also look at reports that identify students who are chronically absent, meaning they have attended less than 90 percent of school days.
Why is it important for all teachers to look at attendance? According to Attendance Works, one in 10 kindergarten and first-grade students nationally are chronically absent, missing nearly a month of school. Emerging research shows even higher rates among preschoolers. Students who missed 2 to 4 days in September were 5 times more likely to be chronically absent than students who were absent fewer than 2 days. A 1st grade teacher who uses an attendance report to find those students who missed 2 to 4 days in September could step in to help.
All educators are encouraged to use the Student Profile Report. In this report teachers can get a longitudinal look at their students in three separate areas: enrollment, attendance, and state assessments. First, the enrollment data shows what schools a student has attended. This data will show if a student repeated a grade, withdrew during a term, and a reason for their withdrawal. The second tab is the complete attendance record of the student. The report shows the number of days absent, percent attended compared to the school’s average, district’s average, and state average. The third tab is the state assessment. The Student Profile Report has data from each state assessment the student has taken, which includes the assessment name, date of assessment, scale score, level received, and each claim rating. For students receiving special education or English learner services, the student profile will also display this information.
This report can give a teacher a look at each of his or her students prior to the current school year. Knowing if a student has recently moved into your school and from where, a possible attendance issue, and an overview of their state assessments all in one place is a tool that all teachers have access to.
Need more information or have questions? Please contact STARSHelp@state.sd.us.