1. 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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

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

8. STAR Math Example Questions

9. STAR Math Example Questions

10. STAR Reading Skills Tested

11. STAR Reading Example Questions

12. STAR Reading Example Questions

13. STAR Early Literacy Skills Tested

14. STAR Early Literacy Example Questions
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

15. 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.

16. Provides a Variety of Reports

17. STAR Screening Report

18. STAR Individual Student Reports
STAR Math and Reading
STAR Early Literacy

19. 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.

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

21. 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.

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