State of Texas Assessments of

Academic Readiness (STAARTM)

ELL ASSESSMENT UPDATE

ELL Assessment Policies for STAAR

• Proposed commissioner rules* to be published soon in Texas Register for public comment

• Adoption expected by late fall

STAAR ELL participation policies in this PowerPoint are not considered final until

proposed rules are adopted

* Note: No changes to TAKS grade 10 and TAKS exit level requirements for ELLs – TAKS policies stand for TAKS administrations

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STAAR Assessment Program Regular STAAR

STAAR Spanish STAAR L

STAAR Modified STAAR Alternate

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ELL Participation in STAAR Spanish

• Available for students in grades 3–5• To be administered if LPAC determines

assessment in Spanish provides most appropriate measure of student’s academic progress

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ELL Participation in STAAR L

• Maximum years in U.S. schools to take STAAR L 3 unless unschooled asylee/refugee, then 5

• TELPAS proficiency level threshold Student not eligible for STAAR L once advanced high

rating attained on TELPAS reading test

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STAAR L Tests• Linguistically accommodated versions of

STAAR 3–8 and EOC STAAR L is for math, science, and social studies

(EOC included) No STAAR L for reading and writing

• STAAR L tests are STAAR tests Built with STAAR items to STAAR test

specifications Same achievement standards as regular STAAR

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STAAR L Remember, STAAR L is for • grades 3–8 and EOC • math, science, and social studies

only

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What linguistic accommodations are allowable on STAAR L?

* Provided by test administrator at request of student in 2012; by online testing interface in future

Differences between TAKS LAT and STAAR L

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TAKS LAT (Math & Science) STAAR L (Math & Science)Linguistic Simplification Clarification of word meaning in EnglishOral Translation Text read aloudReading Assistance Bilingual DictionaryBilingual Dictionary Extra time (same day)Bilingual GlossarySide by Side Translation

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What linguistic accommodations are allowable on regular STAAR?

Differences between TAKS LAT and STAAR L

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TAKS LAT (Reading) STAAR (Reading & Writing)Testing over Two Days Extra time (same day)Bilingual Dictionary Grades 3-5 Bilingual, ESL or standard

dictionaryEnglish DictionaryClarification-word or phrase Clarification in English only for words in

writing promptReading Aloud-word or phraseReading Aloud-Entire test itemOral Translation-Word or phrase

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Will there be a STAAR L version of STAAR Spanish?

• No, just as native English speakers who take STAAR in English are not provided additional linguistic accommodations, native Spanish speakers who take STAAR in Spanish will not be provided additional linguistic accommodations.

• Linguistic accommodations are designed for students learning a new language. Linguistic accommodations make the meaning of words in the new language more comprehensible.

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Will there be Spanish or STAAR L versions of STAAR Modified?

No, but linguistic accommodations allowable on STAAR L, plus a few others, will be available for ELLs taking STAAR Modified.

*Unique to STAAR Modified 13

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STAAR Modified for ELLs• ARD committees are required to work in conjunction with

LPACs to determine and document test participation decisions and appropriate linguistic (and other) accommodations.

• For STAAR Modified participation requirements, go to: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/special-ed/staarm/

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TAKS to STAAR: Key STAAR ELL Policies to Know

• All ELLs participate – no exemptions from testing

• STAAR L is just for math, science, and social studies, not reading or writing

• Linguistic accommodations are not just for STAAR L Moderate to substantial degree allowed for STAAR L Limited degree allowed for regular STAAR Degree allowed for STAAR Modified may vary (limited,

moderate, substantial) depending on special education and second language acquisition needs

• Linguistic accommodations do not apply to STAAR Spanish (test is already written in students’ native language)

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• STAAR Modified linguistic accommodations are not subject to years in U.S. schools restrictions

• STAAR L eligibility criteria are same across grades

• No English/Spanish side-by-side linguistic accommodation

• No oral translation or bilingual glossaries, except with STAAR Modified

• No testing over two days

• No requirement to give STAAR L on different day than STAAR

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TAKS to STAAR: Key STAAR ELL Policies to Know