2013 CAMPUS GENERAL TEST ADMINISTRATOR TRAININGSTAAR, STAAR-M, STAAR-STAAR, STAAR-M, STAAR-L (ONLINE ONLY)L (ONLINE ONLY)

{date}, 2013Trainer – {trainer name}Galena Park Independent School District

This PowerPoint does not eliminate your requirement to read and understand the

Test Administrator Manuals.

READ THE MANUALS!!

Get the message?

Campus Test Administrator Responsibilities

STAAR

STAAR-M

STAAR-L (online)

Test Administrator Responsibilities

All test administrators MUST read the Test Administrator Manual from cover to cover before the day of the test.

Attend training conducted by your campus test coordinator.

Receive secure testing materials from your campus test coordinator.

Observe all rules regarding test security and confidential integrity of the state testing system.

Administer the tests in strict compliance with the directions in the Test Administrator Manual.

Supervise and actively monitor testing.

Do not provide any unauthorized assistance to students during testing.

Do not view the test, discuss the test, or score a student test either before, during, or after testing.

Test Administrator Responsibilities

Mark the appropriate score code and test taken information code for each student test administered.

Return all testing materials to the campus test coordinator immediately after students finish testing.

Report testing irregularities and security violations immediately to your campus test coordinator.

Prepare statements for submission to TEA if you are involved in a testing irregularity or test security violation.

Test SecurityTest Security

Successful Testing Begins and Ends with Good Test Security and Confidential

Integrity

Test Security Test Security ObjectivesObjectives1) Account for all secure

materials before, during, and after each test administration.

2) Protect the contents of all tests booklets and student answer documents.

Properly Controlling Secure Testing Materials

Secure materials must be stored under lock and key with limited access when not in use.

Never leave secure materials unsecured in your room.

Test administrators will check out secure testing materials on the morning of testing from the campus testing coordinator and will return them immediately when students finish testing.

Protecting Test Content

No person my view, reveal, or discuss the contents of a test or answer document unless specifically instructed to do so by the procedures in the test administrator manuals.

No person providing an oral administration may write notes, calculations, or any other marks in a test booklet or in any other location.

Top Secret

Protecting Test Content

• Secure materials may not be duplicated by test administrators.

• Seals on test booklets may only be broken during testing sessions and only by persons authorized to do so in the instructions.

• No person may answer verbally or nonverbally any question that relates to the contents of a test before, during, or after a test administration.

• No person may review or discuss student responses during or after testing unless specifically authorized to do so by the procedures in the TA manual.

Testing Procedures Related to Test Security and Confidentiality

All tests must be administered in strict accordance with the manuals.

No person may change any student response or instruct a student to do so.

Districts must actively monitor testing sessions and require test administrators to actively monitor during testing.

Only students can erase stray marks or darken response ovals on their answer documents and only during the testing session.

Testing Procedures Related to Test Security and Confidentiality

There must be a trained test administrator present with students one-hundred percent of the time until students complete testing and submit their answer documents to the test administrator. This includes breaks and lunch

Test AdministratorTest AdministratorSecurity OathsSecurity Oaths

TEA requires that everyone be trained and sign a security oath before handling secure testing materials or participating in the administration of a state test.

There is one TA oath;1) TA General Oath {only one per year and

signed after annual general training but, before handling any secure testing materials or administering a state-mandated assessment}

A new test administrator oath must be signed once per calendar year.

Sign sections after receiving training but, before handling secure materials or administering a state-mandated assessment. TAs responsible for

oral administration, transcribing answer student responses, and particular linguistic accommodations will need to fill out the last section.

Active Monitoring Monitoring during test

administrations is the responsibility of the test administrator, the campus test coordinator, and the campus principal. Teachers are required to actively monitor

students during testing. Principals and Campus Test Coordinators

will actively monitor testing sessions at their campus.

What Is Active Monitoring?Watching students during testing. The focus of the teacher’s attention is on the students and not elsewhere. Walking around to better observe

what students are doing. Are students; working on correct section of

test, marking answers on the answer document, not cheating, not using cell phones, not talking or communicating with other students, etc.?

What is NOT Active Monitoring? Anything that takes the test

administrator’s attention away from the students during testing. Examples include; Working on the computer or doing email. Reading a book, magazine, or newspaper. Grading papers or doing lesson planning. Leaving the room without a trained substitute

test administrator in the room. Leaving students unattended during lunch or

breaks. Be sure to not read the test content over

a student’s shoulder and do not examine specific student responses during testing, since doing these will be a test security violation committed while active monitoring.

Cell Phones The use of cell phones or other two-

way communication devices is prohibited during testing for students and test administrators.

The reason is that cell phones can…. disrupt the testing environment, be used to cheat by obtaining

unauthorized assistance on test content by students, and can

be used to image secure tests and compromise the confidentiality of the test with their camera feature by students and teachers.

Seating Chart Rule• Seating Charts are required for all test administrations.

Seating Charts must include:– Location of testing session (campus, room) and a brief

description of the testing area (classroom, library, broom closet, etc.)

– The assessment being given including grade and subject.– The first and last names of the test administrator(s).– The first and last names of each student and where they

were seated for testing.– Student unique identifier (local or PEIMS number)- ask

your campus testing coordinator which number to use.– Student test booklet number.– Test start time and end time

– this includes any breaks not included in the 4 hour time limit.

• If students are re-grouped during testing an additional seating chart will be needed for the new group. The new seating chart should indicate the time students were regrouped.

Honor Statements Students taking EOCs will be asked to sign

an honor statement immediately prior to taking the exam. The language will appear on the answer document. Sign it in pencil.

By signing my name, I agree that I will not give or receive unauthorized assistance during the test. I understand that giving or receiving unauthorized assistance during the test is cheating and may result in the invalidation of my test results.

• The test security supplement contains a sample letter to parents regarding the honor statement.

• Test administrators are not required to check to make sure students sign their honor pledges.

On-Site Monitoring by TEA

TEA will again be conducting on-site visits to districts and campuses throughout the 2013 testing year. TEA uses independent test monitors. The monitors will show up unannounced. If we are administering state testing in strict

accordance with the manuals then we have nothing to worry about from state monitors.

The state monitors will only be one more person monitoring your testing room. Your testing room will be monitored by your principal, your campus testing coordinator, and possibly a central office testing monitor even if the state monitors do not visit Galena Park ISD.

Departures from Test Administration Procedures

Incidents resulting in a deviation from documented testing procedures are defined as testing irregularities.

Each person participating in the testing program is responsible for reporting immediately to the district testing coordinator any violation or suspected violation of test security or confidentially, including all testing irregularities.

Preventing Testing Irregularities

Per TEA, a test administrator can stop four hour timer in the event they must stop the testing session to have a question answered.

Serious Testing Irregularities Testing irregularities that constitute a

disclosure of secure testing materials or altering student results either directly or indirectly are considered serious.

Examples include; Viewing the test before, during, or after testing

unless authorized by the testing procedures. Scoring student tests. Discussing secure test content or student

responses. Copying or photographing secure testing materials

without permission by TEA. Directly or Indirectly assisting students during

testing. Tampering with student responses on answer

documents.

Penalties for Prohibited Conduct

Placement of restrictions on the issuance, renewal, or holding of a Texas educator certificate, either indefinitely or for a set term;

Issuance of an inscribed or non-inscribed reprimand; Suspension of a Texas educator certificate for a set

term; or Revocation or cancellation of a Texas educator

certificate without opportunity for reapplication for a set term or permanently.

Possible criminal prosecution under TEC ξ39.0303, Section 552.352 of the Texas Government Code, and Section 37.10 of the Texas Penal Code.

Using Paraprofessionals TEA does allow school districts to use

noncertified paraprofessionals who are employed by the district and routinely work with students in the classroom.

The district must identify a certified staff member who will be responsible for supervising the paraprofessional.

If a violation of test security or confidentiality occurs under this circumstance, then the supervising certified professional is subject to the penalties.

Must complete and retain a district noncertified paraprofessional testing oath.

Web-based Test Administrator Training Modules

TEA has developed three training modules that address test security issues. They are available at www.TexasAssessment.com/TAonlinetraining

Topics addressed:1) Active Monitoring2) Distribution of Test Materials3) Proper Handling of Secure Materials

The modules show common errors, demonstrate correct procedures, and establish expectations for each topic. All individuals who will have access to the secure testing environment or to students who are still testing will need to view these modules as well as receive general and administration-specific test administrator training.

Test Schedule and Test Schedule and DirectionsDirections All tests must be

administered on the scheduled day.

All tests must be administered in strict accordance with the instructions contained in the test administration manuals.

Galena Park ISD Testing Calendar

http://www.galenaparkisd.com/calendar/Testing%20Calendar.pdf

Make Up Testing• Make-up testing sessions are permitted

for all STAAR grades and subjects• The student must be absent on the

scheduled testing day in order to be eligible for make up testing.

• Your campus testing coordinator must still make district turn in time. He /she will call for exceptions.

Answer DocumentsAnswer Documents

Answer DocumentsAnswer Documents

Answer DocumentsAnswer Documents

Two Answer Documents

There are two answer documents that are used for all STAAR testing.1) STAAR including both English and

Spanish are on one combined answer document (per grade)

2) STAAR-M– will use the STAAR-M answer document.

STAAR–Alt – no answer documents should be submitted for students assessed with STAAR-Alt -it is an online only system.

Answer Documents(continued)

• Less score codes in STAAR!

• “S” – tested• “A” – absent• “O” – other (illness, testing

irregularity, EOC/above grade level, etc.)

• “*” – paper/online or STAAR/STAAR-L/STAAR Modified

NOTE: For each subject area, only ONE score code should be gridded.

Answer Documents(continued)

• An “*” score code is present on all STAAR and STAAR Modified answer documents that have two subject areas tested.

NOTE: For each subject area, only ONE score code should be gridded.

Answer Documents(continued)

• TEST TAKEN INFO field — information about the test form (STAAR) and the language version (English or Spanish) must be recorded in this field.

•“EN” or “SP” for grades 3, 4, and 5•“Blank” bubble for grades 6, 7, 8

Answer Documents(continued)

• For each subject area tested, only ONE bubble, if applicable, should be gridded in the TEST TAKEN INFO field to show which assessment the student was administered.• Determine the language version of the

assessment that the student will take (grades 3, 4, and 5 only).

• Follow the same steps to grid the TEST TAKEN INFO field even if the student is absent from the test or illness/test irregularity occurs during testing.

• Do not forget to indicate the Test Date (EOC only)

STAARSTAAR

Modified*

* Only the World History-M EOC will have a form number. All other STAAR/EOC Modified assessments will not have a form number.

STAAR Algebra I

STAAR-MAlgebra I

Note: STAAR-M EOC does not have a Test Taken info field

Duplication of Written Compositions• This is no longer allowed!!!!!!!!

Test Administration Test Administration ProceduresProcedures

Testing GuidelinesTesting Guidelines Tests must be administered on the dates

specified in the State Testing Calendar of Events.

At least one test administrator for every 30 students.

“Testing – Do Not Disturb” signs posted on testing rooms.

Testing rooms should be quiet, well lighted, well ventilated, and comfortable.

Bulletin Boards and instructional displays covered or removed if it contains anything that might aid students during testing.

A clock or stop watch must be available to monitor the four-hour time period.

Testing Procedures Do not allow students to bubble

in the demographic fields on the front of the answer document.

No cell phones or other two-way telecommunication devices (students or teachers).

Testing Procedures Scratch paper for any STAAR test is

allowed. Turn in any used scratch paper to your campus testing coordinator.

Test administrators are not allowed to answer any question relating to the content of the test itself.

Test administrators must actively monitor students during testing.

Test administrators cannot leave the room unless a trained substitute test administrator is present.

May change testing rooms as long as test security is not breached.

Testing Procedures• Reinforcing, reviewing, and/or distributing testing

strategies during an assessment is strictly prohibited.• You cannot require students to use any particular test

taking strategy. Students can use test taking strategies but you cannot require them to do so during the testing. This includes first marking answers in test booklet and then transferring them later to the answer document.

• Students must be allowed to work (not sleep) at their own pace. Students may not be directed to speed up or slow down.

• Students must finish within the four hour time limit. This includes bubbling answers on answer documents.

Testing Procedures Students should be reminded periodically to record their

responses on their answer documents. A student’s responses must be recorded on the answer document within the four-hour time period. Test administrators may say,

“Remember that you must record your responses on the answer document. Be sure to erase any stray marks that you might have accidentally made on your answer document.” However, test administrators may not view or discuss individual test items or responses.

It is permissible to encourage students to stay on task. Reminder: Test Administrators (TAs) MUST pick up

student testing materials as soon as the student is finished testing. The TA must review the answer document to determine if the student has left portions of the answer document blank. If so, the TA must hand back the student answer document and make the statement above.

The student may finish completing his/her test as long as the 4-hour time window has not passed.

What happens if a Test Administrator notices a student missing a short answer or written composition response?Per TEA, these items should not be treated as one item.

Test administrators should make the following statement to students who are missing a short answer or written composition response.

“Remember that you must record your responses on the answer document. Be sure to erase any stray marks that you might have accidentally made on your answer document.”

What to do when students refuse??? Stop the testing session for the student

so the student may receive counseling. If the student continues to refuse, have

the fill out the document titled, “Student Refusal Form”. Note: the student must sign the form. Mark the test with a score code of “S” Ensure parent(s)/guardian are contacted

Testing Procedures Students must remain seated

during testing and are not allowed to talk while test booklets are open.

Students are not allowed to work on a previous section of the test or a section that has not yet been administered.

Lunch breaks are permitted, however students must remain as a group and be monitored by a trained test administrator so they do not discuss the test.

Testing Procedures

Communicate visually the amount of time left to test in one-hour intervals. Test administrators should also indicate

when the students have 30, 15 and 5 minutes left.

Students will not be permitted to record answers on the answer document after the time limit has ended.

Dictionaries and Thesauruses

Dictionaries must be available to all students taking: STAAR reading assessments

(including STAAR Modified) at grades 6–8

STAAR writing assessments (including STAAR Modified) at grade 7

STAAR English I, II, and III reading and writing assessments (including STAAR Modified)

Calculator Use Must provide each student a

graphing calculator for their entire Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II test test.

Must provide a four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator for Biology, Chemistry or Physics.

Districts are required to ensure that all calculator memory is cleared and all additional applications are disabled for testing.

Grade 3 Mathematics Reading Assistance

Grade 3 math reading assistance is part of the standard administration for all students taking TAKS, TAKS Accommodated, or TAKS-M.

Upon the request of the student, the test administrator may provide assistance by reading any word, phrase, or sentence of a test question or answer choice that the student is experiencing difficulty reading.

Permitted on an individual basis only for any grade 3 student who requests it.

Test administrators do not receive an additional copy of the test to provide mathematics reading assistance.

Reading assistance is not an oral administration. Reading the entire grade 3 math test is an oral administration.

After Testing After Testing ProceduresProcedures

• After student testing materials are collected, students may be allowed to quietly read books (must not disturb others still testing).

• Immediately after each test session, the test administrator must return all test materials to the campus coordinator.

Materials Used in Testing All materials used during state-

mandated testing (i.e. STAAR) must be authorized by the Campus Testing Coordinator.

Test administrators may not use their own supplies or allow students to use their own supplies unless specifically approved by the Campus Testing Coordinator.

Optional Test Administration

Procedures & Materials

What procedures and materials are available to ALL students?

• Includes some things that have been called testing accommodations in previous years

• Related to best practices for instruction• Available to any student who needs

them• Not intended for every student in a

class or disability category• Not recorded on answer document• Available on test administration

materials web pages as well as accommodation resources

What procedures and materials are available to ALL students?

• Allowed for any student NOT every student; test administrators should not distribute these materials on test day; make them available in front of room or ask students if they need it

• Be sure to document so communication to the Campus Testing Coordinator can occur.

• Individual or small-group administration has moved back to a Type 1 accommodation

What procedures and materials are available to ALL students?

• Reading assistance on grade 3 mathematics

• Highlighters or colored pencils

• Procedures or materials to minimize distractions (e.g., stress ball, noise-reducing headphones)

• Reading test aloud to self (e.g., reading into a voice-feedback device or voice recorder)

• Signing or translating test administration directions

• Scratch paper or other workspace

• Colored overlays• Magnifying

devices• Blank place

markers• Preferential

seating

Optional Test Administration Materials and Procedures Before handing out secure testing

materials or reading test administration procedures, ask students if they need any of the materials determined as allowable in the Optional Test Administration Materials Procedures. Note: you may only deliver only to student

who request. Also, students may request additional supplies once testing begins.

Testing Testing AccommodationsAccommodations

Testing Accommodations• Accommodations are practices and

procedures that provide equitable access during instruction and assessments for students with special needs.

• Accommodations are intended to reduce or even eliminate the effects of a student’s disability or limitation; however, they do not reduce learning expectations.

• The accommodation must be documented in the IEP or IAP for the student and must be used in regular instruction and assessment for the student.

Testing Accommodations• Your Campus Testing Coordinator will give you

specific directions and additional instructions if you will be administering STAAR tests with special accommodations.

• Test administrators must be familiar with oral administrations. These directions are written in the Appendix of your Test Administrator manual. Review these directions carefully!!!!!!!

• TEA has articulated all allowable accommodations on the Student Assessment web page. This web site provides more detailed information about all testing accommodations.• http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/accom

modations/staar-telpas/

Same Form Multiple forms of STAAR tests are a result

of imbedded field test items in the operational tests.

The only difference between different forms is the field test items.

Be sure to use the same form of the test for all students receiving oral accommodations. This includes the test administrator booklet.

Oral Administration

All test administrators giving oral accommodations MUST read the Appendix that covers oral accommodations carefully.

Available for eligible students on STAAR or STAAR-M

Available for Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Not writing tests (except prompts).

Encompasses different levels of reading support. Must be documented in IEP/IAP. Students may change level of support during testing only if this option is documented for that student.

Same form must be used. The Test Administrator needs a copy of the test

booklet with the same form number. Must maintain test security and confidential

integrity. (Needs additional training and additional signature on security oath when the teacher is reading the test as part of the test administration.)

What may be read aloud during an Oral Administration?

Yes NoMath, Science, Social Studies

Test questions and answer choices (i.e., everything in the test booklet) Required reference materials (as applicable) Allowable Supplemental AidsSee TA manual Appendix

Reading Test questions and answer choices Required reference materials (as applicable) Allowable Supplemental AidsSee TA manual Appendix

Reading selections

Writing Required reference materials (as applicable) Allowable Supplemental AidsSee TA manual Appendix

Revising and editing passages Revising and editing test questions and answer choices

67Place in oral

teacher tub

Supplemental Aids

All aids used during testing are for special education students only.

All aids must contain the GPISD 2012-13 seals.

Place in teacher tub

with supplement

al aids

Multiple-choice

Griddable Short-answer

Writing prompt

Student Writes

Student Circles

Student Points

Student Dictates/ signsStudent Types

Student Uses Speech-to-text

Basic Transcribing: Examples/TypesPlace in

transcribing

teacher tub

Special Instructions/Considerations for Transcribing Special features that should be disabled when

transcribing for a student using technology-based methods (e.g., word processor, software) Disable internet access

For example, an eligible student may use a laptop to type responses, but the Wi-Fi/3G/4G internet access must be disabled and the student must be closely monitored to ensure that the internet cannot be accessed or any camera features are not used. The student may need to complete the test in a separate setting to ensure the confidentiality of the test.

Disable spell check, word predictor, and all other special features (unless the student also meets the eligibility criteria for Spelling Assistance)

When transcribing a student’s responses to griddable questions, don’t forget that the test administrator MUST use the “Transcribing Griddable Questions” document so that the student is aware of the maximum number of boxes available for each answer.

70

Place in transcribi

ng teacher

tub

Modified Assessments All STAAR- Modified test administrators are required

to practice reading their test directions before administering the test. The test administrator must read and understand all directions located in the Modified directions section, not just the SAY directions.

STAAR/EOC Modified Reading and Writing assessments will require a test booklet for the test administrator to read the pre-reading boxes. This procedure is not just for Modified tests with oral accommodations. This procedure is for ALL Modified Reading and Writing assessments.

Place in modified teacher

tub

• No exemptions for STAAR program • STAAR L (offered online) is a linguistically accommodated English version of STAAR for ELLs in grades 3 – 8 and on EOC who meet specific participation requirements • STAAR Spanish is available for ELLs in grades 3 – 5 who meet specific participation requirements• ELLs not eligible for STAAR L or STAAR Spanish may be provided allowable linguistic accommodations on STAAR•Additional training will occur for students administering STAAR-L online and for the administration of STAAR-M to ELLs.

72

STAAR Assessments for English Language Learners (ELLs)

Returning Testing Returning Testing MaterialsMaterials Verify that no answer documents have

inadvertently been left in test booklets. Make sure that any transcribing that is

required for special testing situations has been done. Remember that “Transcribed by” and “Reason” must be recorded on the top of all transcribed answer documents.

You have now completed the annual General STAAR Test

Administrator Training for 2013.