1. Sunnyvale Middle School March 3, 2015
STAAR Training
Sunnyvale Middle School
March 3, 2015

2. Mrs. McAda vs. Testing Coordinator
Mrs. McAda TC
Smiles/Sweet Counselor Testing Coordinator
Will try to help you in Zero Tolerance!
ANY WAY I CAN!
Working hard to keep
Works hard to please you us out of trouble!
& make you stress free &
healthy!

3. Sunnyvale Middle School Way to go!
1 Testing Irregularities last year for SMS
You write a letter, I write a letter, both submitted to TEA= not fun!

4. Active Monitoring
Active monitoring means test administrators must be actively engaged while students are working on the test, moving about the room so they can be more aware of students’ actions.
SMS teachers may not sit behind their desk. You should put a stool/chair in the front of the room so you can closely monitor students.
Please do not read a book, magazine or grade papers.
No one should be behind their computer.
It is considered appropriate for you to be up and walking around the room every minutes and making sure not to stand by any one person for a long period of time.
Test administrators should confirm that students are working only on the section of the test being administered that day
Students should not have materials available that are not allowed such as ballpoint pens, cell phones, or other electronic devices.
Students should also be reminded periodically, either as a group or individually, to bubble their responses on the answer document within the 4 hours time limit.
Principals, administrators, and campus test coordinators must confirm that test administrators are actively monitoring in each testing room.
Failure to actively monitor during testing is now considered a test irregularity.

5. Ensure Proper Testing Procedures
This training does NOT take the place of reading the appropriate administration manual. You can find a copy of the manuals on the TEA website under Test Administration Manuals.
All Test Administrators will stay in test room with students except for brief restroom breaks. Forms will be provided for documentation to show administrator changes. Please tell students that administrators will be peeking in the rooms and not to pay them any attention.
Do NOT have your window covered on testing days.
Bulletin boards and instructional displays that might aid examinees during testing must be covered or removed. Desks should not be in pairs. I will check this the afternoon before the test. All rooms must be ready to go before you leave.  
A “Testing—Do Not Disturb” sign should be posted outside the testing room.
Ensure that the Seating Chart has been completed preferably before testing day, including the names of examinees testing and the examinees’ locations in the room. Also include the names of all test administrators involved in the session. If examinees are moved to another room to finish testing, an additional seating chart must be completed.   

6. Proper Testing Procedures continued
All answers must be marked on an answer document with a No. 2 pencil. Answers marked in the test booklet will NOT be scored. Pencils will be provided for students, please only allow the students to use these! Test administrators are not allowed to require examinees to first mark their answers in the test booklet and then transfer them to the answer document. Examinees may be allowed to use highlighters and colored pencils in the test booklet to emphasize important information on a subject-area test. Highlighters will be provided, please only use these. Examinees must remain seated during testing. They are not allowed to talk to one another while test booklets are open.

7. Proper Testing Procedures Continued
■ Some examinees may finish a test earlier than others. After their test materials have been collected, examinees may be allowed to quietly read books. They are not allowed to draw or sleep, only read a book.
■ Only examinees are allowed to erase their stray marks or darken answer-choice circles, and only during the scheduled test session. Please check scantrons as they turn them in. Have students go back and clean up stray marks.
■ Before an examinee leaves the room, the test administrator must inspect the completed answer document to be sure the examinee has recorded his or her answers. If the examinee has not done so, the test administrator must say, “You have not recorded all of your answers on the answer document. Please go back and record your answers on it now.” The testing materials should then be returned so that the examinee may record his or her answers. Test administrators may look at answer documents only to verify that responses are recorded. They may not look at or comment on answers to individual items.

8. Proper Testing Procedures Continued
Answering Questions
Test administrators may answer questions about test directions or procedures. Test administrators are NOT allowed to answer any questions related to the content of the test itself. If an examinee asks a question that you are not permitted to answer, you may respond, for example, “I can’t answer that for you; just do the best you can.” Test administrators and school personnel are NOT allowed to
■ translate test questions (including the written composition prompt) into another language; (except sign language);
■ rephrase or add information to questions or the prompt;
■ discuss test questions with anyone before, during, or after testing; or
■ score test items or discuss with examinees how they performed.   

9. Proper Testing Procedures Continued
If an examinee asks a question about the prompt, the test administrator may say, “I can’t explain it to you; just respond to the prompt in the best way you can.”
You are responsible for test security and confidentiality in your testing room. If a situation arises that you do not know how to resolve, contact McAda. Report in writing any violations of test security and confidentiality to your campus coordinator. You must sign the bottom of your oath after the entire administration has been completed to affirm that you have complied with state assessment requirements.
The contents of test booklets and answer documents with examinee responses are considered secure materials at all times. No unauthorized viewing, discussion, or scoring is allowed.
Immediately after each test session, return the test materials that your campus coordinator distributed to you, including your test administrator manual, we have to
use these all year.

10. Ensure Proper Testing Procedures
Restroom Breaks
You will have a girls restroom pass and a boys restroom pass. There will be monitors in the hallway to make sure only one examinee at a time is allowed in the restroom.
Lunch Grades 5 and 6
Instruct examinees to place their answer documents inside their test booklets. Collect the booklets and place them in locked storage. Examinees must remain together as a group and be closely monitored by a trained test administrator to ensure they do not discuss the contents of the test.
Grades 7 and 8, you should finish testing before lunch.

11. Ensure Proper Testing Procedures
Cell Phone Use
The use of cell phones during testing is not permitted. Districts are required to develop a policy for cell phone use that serves their needs while preserving the security and confidentiality of the testing program. A cell phone statement will be included on the Checklist. Take up cell phones, put sticky note with student’s name on it, place it in a ziplock baggie (provided) and put it in teacher’s desk. When classes are merged, students not finished testing moved out, please give the cell phone for that student to the new testing administrator and phones may be handed back out to students completed with testing. Students may not call to be picked up when finished. No parents can come to lunch this day.
Emergencies
Occasionally an emergency will arise, and a student may need to leave the testing room. Contact McAda (Ext. 2510) or Tish (Ext. 2525). Do not allow students to go to the clinic or leave the room without contacting McAda.

12. New STAAR Info/Changes
There is no more STAAR M, STAAR A has replaced it and Cowden helped decide which students would benefit from this. STAAR Alt is standardized and was completed in February by Melissa James. STAAR Standardized Oral Administration (SOA) (Available, but SMS not opting to use it this year.) Math Dates changed after scantrons were printed. Be very active in monitoring students working on Reading test, make sure they leave Math section blank! When they take the Math test, we will have to do this again to make sure Math section is left blank! JEEZ!!

13. Test Security-It’s the Law!
Texas Education Code (TEC)
Sec SECURITY IN ADMINISTRATION OF ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS. (a) The commissioner:
(1) shall establish procedures for the administration of assessment instruments adopted or developed under Section , including procedures designed to ensure the security of the assessment instruments; and …

14. Test Security-It’s the Law!
Texas Administrative Code
19 TAC § (b) Test administration procedures. These test administration procedures shall be delineated in the test administration materials provided to school districts and charter schools annually. Districts and charter schools must comply with all of the applicable requirements specified in the test administration materials. Test administration materials shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
general testing program information;
requirements for ensuring test security and confidentiality described in the 2013 Test Security Supplement provided in this subsection; Figure: 19 TAC § (b)(2)
procedures for test administration;
responsibilities of personnel involved in test administration; and
procedures for materials control.

15. Investigating & Reporting Testing Irregularities
Each person participating in the Texas student assessment program is responsible for reporting any suspected violation of test security or confidentiality. Campus staff should notify their campus or district testing coordinator, and district coordinators should, in turn, notify TEA.
Incidents that result in a deviation from documented testing procedures are defined as testing irregularities, falling into one of two categories – procedural or serious.

16. Testing Irregularities
Serious
Procedural
Total

17. Testing Irregularities
Procedural Irregularities
reflect minor errors or deviations in testing procedures
do not represent severe breaches in security or confidentiality
do not require a call to TEA unless guidance is needed by the district
do not require supporting documentation
To prevent, please follow checklists! =)

18. Testing Irregularities
Serious Irregularities
constitute severe violations of test security or confidentiality
can result in the individual(s) responsible being referred to the TEA Educator Certification and Standards Division for consideration of disciplinary action
must be investigated by the district coordinator immediately

19. Violation of Security and Confidentiality
Serious = Intentional
Conduct that constitutes a severe violation of test administration procedures (serious irregularities) may include, but is not limited to, the actions listed below.
changing or altering an examinee’s response or answer to a test item
providing, suggesting, or indicating to an examinee a response or answer to a secure test question (this includes suggesting that the examinee review or change his or her response)
aiding or assisting an examinee with a response or an answer to a test question

20. Violation of Security and Confidentiality
Serious = Intentional (continued)
duplicating secure test materials
disclosing the contents of any portion of a secure test
viewing a test before, during, or after an assessment unless specifically authorized to do so (INTELLECTUAL THEFT)
encouraging or assisting an individual to engage in the conduct described above
failing to report to an appropriate authority that an individual engaged in any of the events listed above

21. Penalties for Serious Violation of Security
Violation of security or confidentiality of any test required by the Texas Education Code (TEC) Chapter 39, Subchapter B, is prohibited.
A person who engages in conduct prohibited by the Test Security Supplement and in other test administration materials may be subject to a sanction of credentials. This includes any person who violates, assists in the violation of, or solicits another to participate in the violation of test security or confidentiality. Additionally, this includes any person who fails to report such a violation.

22. Penalties for Serious Violation of Security
Penalties for participation in a serious violation of test security or confidentiality may include the following reprimands:
placement of restrictions on the issuance, renewal, or holding of a Texas teacher certificate
issuance of an inscribed or non-inscribed reprimand
suspension of a Texas teacher certificate
revocation or cancellation of a Texas teacher certificate

23. Testing Irregularities
The types of serious testing irregularities reported in 2014 include
assistance,
unauthorized viewing or recording of test content,
discussing secure test content,
scoring/working students’ tests,
tampering, and
falsifying TELPAS/STAAR Alternate data.

24. Student Cheating
If a district determines that a student is involved in a cheating incident, either by providing or receiving assistance, the district is required to invalidate the student’s test.
The district should contact TEA immediately if a student electronically captures (e.g., cell phone picture) any portion of a test or an answer document.
Any disciplinary actions taken locally against a student for cheating must be reported to TEA using the Locally Determined Disciplinary Action (LDDA) online form.

25. Reminder: STAAR Test Session Time Limits Reminders
Test administrators must use a clock or timer.
Test administrators must communicate (orally or in writing) the amount of time left to test in one-hour intervals.
Students must record all responses on the scantron by the end of the test session time period.
Start and stop times must be recorded on the seating chart (Start time after directions are read and Stop time is when the last person in your group finishes the test.) Note individual completion time on the student log.
Grade level will wait in testing mode until the last student in that grade is finished testing.
IF students get extra time…remind them!

26. Allowable for all Students
Signing test administration directions
Translating directions into the native language of an English language learner
Allowing a student to read test aloud to self
Reading aloud or signing personal narrative, expository, literary, or persuasive writing prompt.
Providing reading assistance on the grade 3 math test
Making assistive tools available.
-scratch paper -color overlays -highlighters
-blank place markers – magnifying devices
7. Giving permission for students to use tools to minimize distractions (stress ball)
8. Allowing individual and small group administrations
9. Gently reminding students to stay on task

27. Allowable for all Students
Students may use scratch paper.
Reference material and graph paper written on and removed from test booklets along with all scratch paper used by students must be destroyed immediately after the test session is completed.
Please remove all scratch paper, charts, etc. and make a stack inside your testing bucket when you return your testing materials. Do not leave them all inside the testing booklets. This will help me so much!

28. Which students are eligible for accommodations?
Applies to students taking STAAR, STAAR Spanish, STAAR L, STAAR Modified, and TELPAS
For purposes of statewide assessments, a student needing accommodations due to a disability includes
a student with an identified disability who receives special education services and meets established eligibility criteria for certain accommodations
a student with an identified disability who receives Section 504 services and meets established eligibility criteria for certain accommodations
a student with a disabling condition who does not receive special education or Section 504 services but meets established eligibility criteria for certain accommodations

29. What accommodations are available?

30. What does Routinely, Independently, and Effectively Mean?
Used often enough that the student is familiar with and comfortable using accommodation on a statewide assessment
Not necessarily used every day or in every class
Independently
Only applicable to some accommodations (e.g., applies to use of a calculator but not to an oral administration)
Effectively
Accommodation meets student needs as evidenced by data and observations with or without accommodation use.

31. Ensure Proper Testing Procedures
Changing Testing Rooms
Occasionally I will move students to a new testing room. Please do not merge students to a new room on your own! Please wait for Mrs. McAda to come around and do this. Examinees may NOT carry their own test booklets to the new testing room.  
Keys to Success
Start promptly Ayo’s announcement
Provide secure environment
Follow directions on checklist

32. Checklists and Stuff
Each test administrator will receive a checklist to follow on the day of testing. PLEASE FOLLOW THIS CAREFULLY! If you don’t know what you should do, ASK, don’t ASSUME!
Signs to hang on doors and other passes.