STAR Assessments by Renaissance Learning AVSD Title I Parent Breakfast Thursday, May 3, 2012 Presented by: Dr. Jan Nuzzo, Pat Dietrich, Katie Dutkowsky, Megan Harrison, Cathy Restauri

There are three STAR assessments that we use at AVSD: STAR Early Literacy STAR Reading Enterprise STAR Math Enterprise STAR Early Literacy, Reading, and Math are computer-adaptive assessments designed to give teachers accurate, reliable, and valid data quickly so they can make good decisions about instruction and intervention.

What are computer-adaptive tests? All STAR assessments are computer-adaptive tests (CATs). Computer-adaptive tests continually adjust the difficulty of each child’s test by choosing each test questions based on the child’s previous response. If the child answers a questions correctly, the difficulty of the next item is increased. If the child misses a question, the difficulty level is decreased. CATs save testing time and spare children the frustration of items that are too difficult and the boredom of items that are too easy.

How do STAR tests relate to Pennsylvania and the PSSA? STAR Enterprise assessments are state relevant. They are statistically linked to the PSSA state test so we can predict state test outcomes while there's still time to affect them. They also align to the PA state standards and provide information about student mastery of those standards. This information can be used to guide and enhance daily instruction.

Who takes the STAR tests? STAR Early Literacy STAR Reading STAR Math Kindergarten All students A few students at the end of the year No students Grade 1 All students by the end of the year Some students as needed Grade 2 Grade 3 A few students if needed Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Because each item on the test is timed, each of the tests only takes about 20 minutes.

When are the STAR tests administered? Benchmark Tests The appropriate tests for a grade level will be given at the end of each nine week grading period to all students Progress Monitoring Tests Will be given to groups of students who are receiving interventions (usually Title I pull out groups) Will be given as often as every 2 weeks, or once a month Used to help show if the intervention instruction is helping students to show progress/grow

STAR Math Skills Tested Tracks development in four main domains: Numbers and Operations Algebra Geometry and Measurement Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability

STAR Math Example Questions

STAR Math Example Questions

STAR Reading Skills Tested

STAR Reading Example Questions

STAR Reading Example Questions

STAR Early Literacy Skills Tested

STAR Early Literacy Example Questions https://hosted28.renlearn.com/rendemo Need to go on to the demo website because these questions involve listening to directions student login: kalber weekly password: we5 control A: get out of test

What kind of score does your child get? For every STAR assessment a student receives a scaled score (SS), which is based on the difficulty of the questions and the number of correct answers. Scaled scores are useful for comparing your child’s performance over time and across grades. This is the score the school will be using for instructional purposes. There are many other scores that will be associated with a student report, but the scaled score is the basis for all of the other scores.

Provides a Variety of Reports

STAR Screening Report

STAR Individual Student Reports STAR Math and Reading STAR Early Literacy

Progress Monitoring STAR Reports Progress Monitoring can be used to set a manageable goal for students who may be struggling in a particular area. The goal is the yellow star on the graph. Each of the blue diamonds is a test result. The black line is a trend line showing if the student is making progress (going toward the star) or not making progress (pointing away from the star). These reports are helpful to guide intervention isntruction.

Math Facts In A Flash Work at current level Work at a previously mastered level Teacher can select levels

Accelerated Reader (AR) We will be looking at implementing Accelerated Reader next year. We are still in the process of learning how the program works and how we will use our resources. Accelerated Reader basically works like this: Using the ZPD (zone of proximal development) range from the STAR Reading reports, students/teacher pick out books that are of an appropriate AR (accelerated reader) level Student reads the book Student goes onto the computer, either at school or at home, and takes a comprehension quiz about the book he/she has read Student earns points for the reading the book and taking the quiz As we learn about the program, we are hoping to put some kind of incentive program into place based on points earned individually and as classrooms.

Where to go for additional information If you would like more information: Visit the RenLearn STAR website: http://www.renlearn.com/se/ If you have specific questions about the STAR tests, or your child’s progress, please call the school: Acme: 724-274-6500 Katie Dutkowsky – Reading Specialist Megan Harrison – Math Coach You child’s classroom teacher Colfax: 724-274-7300 Pat Dietrich – Reading Specialist Cathy Restauri – Math Coach Your child’s classroom teacher