Assessment & Accountability Updates
as of February 26, 2021
Region 6 ESC Assessment & Accountability Listserv
ASSESSMENT UPDATES:
Additional Extension to TELPAS and TELPAS Alternate Testing Windows and Customer Service Support for Saturday STAAR Administration
2021 TELPAS AND TELPAS ALTERNATE ADMINISTRATION
In response to the school closures resulting from recent Texas winter storms, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is extending the testing window for both TELPAS and TELPAS Alternate. As a result of the extended windows, TELPAS and TELPAS Alternate reporting dates will need to be adjusted. The agency will communicate those updates soon.
TELPAS: The testing window for all TELPAS components (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) has been extended to a 14-week window (February 22–May 28).
TELPAS Alternate: The testing window for TELPAS Alternate has been extended to a 14-week window (February 22–May 28).
2021 STAAR SPRING AND SUMMER CUSTOMER SUPPORT EXTENDED TO SATURDAYS
For districts who would like to administer STAAR online assessments on Saturdays during the extended STAAR testing window, phone support will be available on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning Saturday, April 10. Phone support will only be available for questions related to Saturday testing. Districts should avoid scheduling administrations of STAAR assessments with a writing component on these days.
Saturday testing and support will not be available on Saturday, April 17, because the system is scheduled to be offline. Support will not be available on Saturday, May 29, due to the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
UPDATED 2021 STATE ASSESSMENT GUIDANCE
The Spring 2021 State Assessment Guidance document on the COVID-19 Support: Student Assessment webpage has been updated.
For further information or questions, please contact the Student Assessment Help Desk.
2021 STAAR Alternate 2 Materials Lists Available
The 2021 STAAR Alternate 2 materials lists are available in the STAAR Alternate 2, TELPAS, and TELPAS Alternate Assessment Management System. The lists indicate the quantities of materials your district is scheduled to receive for the 2021 STAAR Alternate 2 administration. Additionally, materials lists are provided for each campus in your district, indicating the materials that will be shipped for that campus. Separate materials lists indicate district overage. Verify with campus coordinators the quantities of materials needed for each campus in your district.
No materials lists will be available if your district did not register students during the registration window. If you did not register students but have students who will participate in this administration, you must submit an order for additional materials, along with a student registration file containing the students, via the Assessment Management System. Additional orders without a student registration file will not be approved. The window to order additional materials is March 8–April 30, 2021.
Proctor Caching for the 2021 TELPAS Online Administration
Proctor caching is only recommended for organizations with low bandwidth. For instructions about how to test your network, refer to the Coordinate and Conduct a Test of Online Testing Environment section in the District and Campus Coordinator Resources.
If your district decides to proctor cache, the 2021 TELPAS online test forms will be available for caching beginning February 15, 2021. Caching of test content can be completed after test sessions are created in the Assessment Management System. The Configure TestNav and Set Up ProctorCache Software sections of the STAAR Alternate 2, TELPAS, and TELPAS Alternate Assessment Management System User’s Guide include information that can be used to ensure your test sessions are configured correctly. In addition, the TestNav System Requirements and ProctorCache System Requirements sections on the TestNav 8 Online Support site include the minimum requirements for proctor caching installations and TestNav 8.
For questions and assistance regarding the information in this communication, contact the Customer Service Center using the live chat feature, the Pearson Customer Support Form, or by calling 800-627-0225.
Additional Update on STAAR Test Administrator Manuals
This communication is to update you on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) test administrator manuals for the 2020–2021 school year.
Districts should be aware of three additional corrections to the 2020–2021 STAAR test administrator manuals.
- STAAR Grades 6–8 Test Administrator Manual—incorrect test dates listed on page 7
- STAAR Grades 6–8 Test Administrator Manual—incorrect information in the online administration directions on page 66
- STAAR Grades 3–5 Test Administrator Manual—additional mislabeled section header on pages 60–62
The effected pages in the electronic versions of the manuals have been corrected and can be found on the Student Assessment Manuals and Materials webpage. In addition, information specifying the changes is located on the first pages in those manuals and described below.
STAAR Grades 6–8 Test Administrator Manual—incorrect test dates listed
Some of the dates listed on page 7 of the grades 6–8 manual are incorrect. The dates for both the paper and online administrations of the STAAR grade 8 science and social studies assessments have been corrected. In the online section, the dates for the April administration of the STAAR grade 8 mathematics and reading assessments have been removed since those tests have been moved to May. The following chart shows the correct information.
STAAR Grades 6–8 Test Administrator Manual—incorrect information in the online administration directions
STAAR Grades 3–5 Test Administrator Manual—additional mislabeled section header
APRIL 2021 STAAR ADMINISTRATIONS
Materials Lists
Materials lists for the April 2021 STAAR administrations will be available in the STAAR Assessment Management System by February 22, 2021.
Districts will be able to download a cumulative CSV file of the Test Booklet Serial Number Report for a list of serial numbers of STAAR test booklets assigned and delivered to the district for the April 2021 STAAR administrations. The report will include serial numbers from initial shipments and will be updated nightly as orders for additional materials are fulfilled. Go to Reports > Orders > Test Booklet Serial Number Report in the Assessment Management System. The Test Booklet Serial Number Report will be available on the same date as the materials list, February 22, 2021. The report will be updated as test booklets are assigned to each district. A complete list of bar codes for districts’ initial orders will be available prior to delivery of initial orders. ETS will continue to send the bar code file containing serial numbers to specific vendors that work with districts.
MAY 2021 STAAR ADMINISTRATION
This is a reminder to submit precode files for the May 2021 STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) administration by March 5, 2021, and for the STAAR grades 3–8 administration by March 12, 2021. Districts should indicate whether a district file will be uploaded or if the PEIMS source file should be used for grades 3–8. If a decision is not indicated by March 1, 2021, ETS will upload the PEIMS source file.
Initial Orders
Initial material orders for the May 2021 STAAR administrations are determined by paper registrations identified in the Assessment Management System at the close of the paper registration windows, March 5, 2021, for EOC assessments, and March 12, 2021, for grades 3–8 assessments. Large print, oral administration, and Spanish test booklet needs should be identified directly in a student’s test registration and may be entered into the Assessment Management System manually via the student’s profile or a registration upload file.
Districts can view registration-based quantities of test booklets to be received by campus and input additional quantities of large print, oral administration, and Spanish test booklets needed. Authorized staff can also use the Test Mode/Materials Report to verify counts prior to the close of the paper registration window. Refer to Section 8.2 Initial Materials Orders of the STAAR Assessment Management System User’s Guide for additional information and instructions.
2021 STAAR ALTERNATE 2 ADMINISTRATION
Districts that registered students for the 2021 STAAR Alternate 2 administration during the registration window will receive shipments of test materials by March 5, 2021. Districts that did not register students but have students who will participate in this administration must submit an order for additional materials and register students.
Additional Material Orders
If your district did not receive sufficient materials for the 2021 STAAR Alternate 2 administration, you can submit additional orders March 8–April 30, 2021, via the STAAR Alternate 2, TELPAS, and TELPAS Alternate Assessment Management System. A student registration must also be submitted, either by importing a student registration file or by manually registering the student. Additional orders without a student registration will not be approved.
Updated 2020-2021 English Learner Reclassification Criteria and Guidance
Due to continued effects of the Coronavirus pandemic as well as the impact of winter storms, the 2020-2021 English learner reclassification criteria has been updated to provide additional allowances for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to ensure English learners have the opportunity to demonstrate readiness for reclassification as English proficient.
It is important to note that waiving the English Language Proficiency (ELP) Assessment, as allowed in the 2019-2020 school year, is not allowed for the 2020-2021 school year, based on federal guidance. However, in accordance with this guidance, the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) testing window has been extended until May 28th, 2021 to fulfill the federal ELP assessment requirement.
- utilize alternative meeting methods, which may include phone or video conferencing and the use of electronic signatures in accordance with their LEA policy while maintaining confidentiality;
- incorporate the required LPAC parent representative in an optional capacity (although highly encouraged); and
- extend the timeline for English learner reclassification decisions through the first 60 calendar days of the 2021-2022 school year if unable to complete before the close of the 2020-2021 school year.
TEA EL Support Meeting
There is a TEA EL Support Meeting next Friday, March 5th beginning at 9:00 AM. An agenda and the Zoom link are posted at the txel.org website here https://www.txel.org/DivisionSupportMeetings/
Assessment Scoring and Reporting Update
The 2019 STAAR Grades 3-8 Reporting Student Data File Format and 2019 STAAR End-of-Course Reporting Student Data File Format have been posted here.
The Student Portal is updated on bi-monthly basis to reflect changes submitted by the districts.
The raw score to scale score conversion tables are posted here.
For questions or help with accessing and interpreting STAAR results, districts and parents can email assessment.reporting@tea.texas.gov or call (512) 463-9704.
Legislative Report: State of Texas Transition to Online Assessments Feasibility Study-December 2020
Professional Learning Opportunities:
New Supplemental STAAR Alternate 2 Training Module
The purpose of this communication is to notify you of the availability of a new supplemental training module for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) Alternate 2. The module, as well as a brief description of the module, is available in the District Campus Coordinator Resources on the Training page.
As part of the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) ongoing efforts to improve the state’s testing program, the Student Assessment Division has developed this web-based training, the STAAR Alternate 2: Eligibility module, to provide guidance to Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) committees to make assessment decisions based on state guidelines. This module is intended to assist ARD committee members in ensuring that only students with significant cognitive disabilities are assessed with an alternate assessment. It is designed to supplement, not replace, the mandatory training required of all personnel involved in testing.
Completion of this module is not a requirement. It is, however, recommended that public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools use this module to enhance the mandatory training required of all personnel involved in testing. The training module consists of two videos and follow-up questions to assess understanding of the content covered in the videos. There is no limit to the number of times the videos may be viewed.
After completion of the module, participants will be able to view overall scores and download certificates of completion. Participants will be prompted to fill in their first and last names and dates of completion prior to printing or saving a copy of the certificate. Any unsaved certificates will not be retrievable at a later time. Certificates are made available for districts as a convenience and are to be used at the districts’ discretion.
If you have any questions about the supplemental STAAR Alternate 2 training module, contact TEA using the Student Assessment Help Desk.
More Training Opportunities from ETS
- The “STAAR Test Material and Precode Shipments – Receipt and Return” webinar will take place Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 1:30–3:00 p.m. (CT).
- The “Online Testing Preparation for Spring 2021 – Session 3” webinar will take place Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 1:30–3:00 p.m. (CT).
For additional information on these topics, refer to the Assessment Management System User's Guide. For questions or assistance regarding the information in this communication, contact the Texas Assessment Support Center at 855-333-7770, STAAR3-8@ets.org, STAAREOC@ets.org, or via live chat through the Assessment Management System.
STAAR Interim Assessments
COVID-19 Waiver Support
Testing of Virtual Students
CALENDARS:
Calendar of Events - Online Calendar Upload Now Available
Additional Assessment Resources:
ACCOUNTABILITY UPDATES:
2021 Accountability Framework Released
The 2021 Academic Accountability Framework has been released and can be accessed on the 2021 Accountability Development page. While all districts and campuses will receive a label of Not Rated: Declared State of Disaster for 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19, the 2021 framework outlines the methodology used to calculate the data that will be displayed on accountability reports. For frequently asked questions, please consult the 2021 Academic Accountability Framework FAQ document.
The 2021 Accountability Manual will be published in the Texas Register for public comment in early April and will incorporate these updates along with additional, less substantive revisions.
A-F Accountability:
Performance Reporting Calendar
March 29–April 9: 2021 Alternative Education Accountability (AEA) Auto-Registration Process in TEAL
April 9–May 10: 2021 Accountability Manual public comment period
April 26–May 7: 2021 Campus Pairing Process in TEAL
Local Accountability System
Districts can find introductory information about local accountability on the TEA website, including the LAS Guide, LAS FAQs, and LAS webinar schedule.
https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/accountability/academic-accountability/local-accountability-system We encourage districts to participate in a LAS webinar and then email the LAS team LAS@tea.texas.gov to schedule a meeting if they would like to discuss possible district participation in local accountability. Districts are no longer required to submit a NOI for LAS. Districts are not required to participate in the introductory webinar prior to contacting us, but most districts do and indicate that the webinar is helpful for launching district conversations about possible participation in LAS. We will continue to notify you of any district requests for LAS information from your region.
Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, the LAS process will continue to provide flexible timelines for LAS plan development and approval. What this means is that the plan development training is now provided on demand rather than only at set times throughout the year. This allows districts to schedule training with us and begin their plan development process whenever it is most convenient for them.
The current LAS districts have opted not to submit and post LAS scores locally for the 2020-21 school year but they are beginning to work on their plans for 2021-22 to see what adjustments may be needed, especially related to possible changes in target goals. Due to the disruptions occurring since March 2020, current LAS districts will not be expected to adjust their plans according to the recommended 3-year timeline. All districts continue to have the option to request plan modifications, at any time during the year, due to extenuating circumstances.
The Introduction to the Local Accountability System webinar is presented several times each month. The full schedule is available on the LAS website. https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/accountability/academic-accountability/webinar-schedule
Registration links are available for upcoming webinar dates in March and April. The webinar schedule through August 2021 is available here.
Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 1 pm
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 9 am
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 10 am
Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 3 pm
Friday, April 30, 2021 at 12 pm
Please contact the local accountability system team at LAS@tea.texas.gov for additional information or to set up a virtual meeting to discuss specifics related to your district.
How will new Texas Success Initiative assessment (TSIA) results be evaluated for accountability?
Please see the table below for eligible TSIA 2.0 college readiness cut scores for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s implementation of the TSIA 2.0 in January 2021.
Eligible TSIA 1.0 scores from both mathematics and ELA will be grandfathered into accountability for students with eligible 1.0 scores.
Additional Accountability Resources:
Important Assessment Contacts:
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
1701 N. Congress Avenue, Room 3-122A
Austin, Texas 78701
Phone: (512) 463-9536
Fax: (512) 463-9302
ETS Customer Service
(STAAR Grades 3–8, EOC, and Interim Assessments):
Phone:(855) 333-7770
Email:
STAAR3-8@ets.org
STAAREOC@ets.org
Pearson's Customer Service Center
(STAAR Alternate 2, TELPAS. and TELPAS Alternate):
Phone: (800) 627-0225
Email: TxPearsonAccess@support.pearson.com
Additional ESC 6 Newsletters:
Contact Information:
Assessment, Accountability & School Improvement Specialist
Teacher Incentive Allotment Lead
Regional Testing Coordinator
Region 6 Education Service Center
Email: jhassell@esc6.net
Website: https://www.esc6.net/
Location: 3332 Montgomery Rd, Huntsville, TX, USA
Phone: 936-435-8334