2. State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness
(STAAR®) Alternate 2 is:
an assessment based on alternate academic standards designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities receiving special education services.
a standardized paper-based assessment (redesigned based on state legislation) administered individually to each eligible student.
an assessment with individual student responses transcribed into a TestNav online form.

3. The admissions, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee determines whether a student with a significant cognitive disability is eligible to take STAAR Alternate 2 based on specific criteria.
Please review the Educator Guide for STAAR A and STAAR Alternate 2 for additional information on eligibility and participation requirements.

4. Assessment Window and Tested Subjects
The STAAR Alternate 2 testing window is February 9–27, Districts may choose when to administer each subject and grade-level test within the window.
The test will be administered in the following grades and subjects:

5. STAAR ALTERNATE 2 IMPORTANT DATES
9/22/2014 – 10/24/2014
Participation counts window
11/5/2014 – 2/27/2015
SDU submission window
Registration available
02/20/2015
Deadline to order additional materials
1/9/2015
Materials list posted online
1/19/2015
Test session creation
1/23/2015
Materials due in district
2/2/2015
Proctor caching available
1/23/15 − 2/9/2015
Preview window
2/9/2015 – 2/27/2015
STAAR Alternate 2 Assessment Window
2/10/2015
Transfer date: students entering the district February 10 or later will not be assessed
3/2/2015 – 3/3/2015
Data verification
Test administrators can continue transcribing student responses
3/6/2015
Return nonscorable materials
5/20/2015
Grades 3 – 8 reports due in district
6/5/2015
EOC reports due in district

6. Test Design
Six clusters assessing six essence statements comprise a test form resulting in 24 scripted questions per test.
Each of the 6 essence statements is assessed with 4 items that measure a specific prerequisite skill and are presented together in a cluster.
The cluster design requires the student to make 6 concept transitions throughout the test.
The four items per cluster range in difficulty, starting with the easiest item and moving toward the hardest item.

7. Test Design
The difficulty of the items is based on the skill being tested, the selected prerequisite skill, and what the student is being asked to do.
Each student regardless of ability is expected to attempt all questions.
Test materials include a test administration booklet containing the scripted questions and guidelines for administering the assessment, and a student booklet containing stimulus images and text for presentation of the items and answer options.

8. Texas Assessment Management System Tasks for Testing Coordinators
There are two options for entering student data to the Assessment Management System. Districts may
upload student data using a file created locally, and/or
enter student data manually.

9. Create Test Sessions
Student responses must be entered in an online form in TestNav. This process is identical to that for paper administrations of STAAR L, STAAR A, and TELPAS.
Information related to the online testing process may be found in the User’s Guide for the Texas Assessment Management System, which can be accessed at:

10. Print Student Authorizations
Student authorizations may be printed after students have been placed into a test session.
Test administrators will use the student authorizations to access their students in TestNav.
The student authorizations contain
the URL that will be entered into a browser by the test administrator to access TestNav
the unique username and test code needed by the test administrator to log in to transcribe student responses.

11. Test Administration Process
Receive Test Materials
STAAR Alternate 2 test administrators will be provided with the following materials:
STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator Manual—secure;
Provides a guide to administering the test, as well as specific instructions for administering each question.
Student booklet—secure;
Contains the images for the questions and answer choices presented to the student.
Comprises a single sheet with answer bubbles for recording student responses for later input into the online transcription form in TestNav. This required
document must be returned to the campus coordinator.
STAAR Alternate 2 Scoring Document—secure during and after use;

12. Who Can Administer STAAR Alternate 2?
Test Administrator Qualifications
Who Can Administer STAAR Alternate 2?
The STAAR Alternate 2 test administrator
should be the student’s teacher for the subject being tested
must have a high level of familiarity with the student so that testing accommodations can be prepared appropriately and the student’s typical response modes can be understood.

13. Paraprofessionals
Certified and noncertified paraprofessionals who may serve as test administrators or test administrator assistants are
currently employed by the district
routinely work with students in the classroom.
Paraprofessionals must be supervised by a certified professional on the same campus throughout the test administration, receive training, and sign the test administrator oath.

14. Test Administrator Assistants
The test administrator assistant can provide assistance including:
preparing allowable accommodations as directed
manipulating materials during the testing session
translating or signing information for the student
managing student behavior.
All test administrator assistants
must be trained in test security and administration procedures prior to the assessment
must sign the test administrator’s oath of test security and confidentiality.

15. Test Security and Confidentiality
STAAR Alternate 2 standardized test administration materials are considered secure. Test security involves accounting for all secure materials and confidential student information before, during, and after the test administration.
Test administrators for the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment must be aware that they are viewing secure content and that discussing the content of the test at any time is strictly prohibited.

16. Test administrators must initial and sign the test administrator oath following training on test security and general testing procedures before handling secure test materials.
The box titled “For Test Administrators Authorized to View Secure State Assessments” must also be signed, because all test administrators will be viewing the actual test questions in order to prepare allowable accommodations.
Photocopying of images can be done to apply accommodations if stated in the student’s IEP and if TEA guidelines are followed.

17. Test Administrator Responsibilities
Maintaining security of test materials preparing test materials for each administration including accommodations
Implementing the test administration processes and procedures stated in the manuals
Monitoring and maintaining test security

18. Test Administrator Responsibilities
reporting any suspected violation of test security to the campus coordinator,
transcribing student responses into TestNav, and
preparing test materials for return to the campus coordinator at the conclusion of test administrations

19. Preview Test Materials
Once test administrators have been trained on security and confidentiality and have signed an oath of test security, they need to preview the STAAR Alternate 2 test materials to become familiar with the test and to prepare for any necessary accommodations.
These materials are considered secure and the campus coordinator must check them out to the test administrator each day during the preview period using the STAAR Alternate 2 Materials Preview Control Form.
Test administrators may preview the test materials before the
beginning of the testing window.
Accommodations should be prepared during the preview period, but may also be prepared during the testing window.
At the end of each day, all materials, including photocopied pages from the student booklet, must be returned to the campus testing coordinator.

20. Preview Test Materials
The test administrator should use the preview period to
preview the “Guidelines for STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator Instructions” and “Scoring” sections of the test administrator manual to become familiar with the policy for presenting and scoring questions.
practice reading the script and following the presentation instructions for actual questions while maintaining the secure contents of the assessments.
review the “Scoring Instructions” for actual questions and plan teacher assistance for specific questions.
preview the student booklet to plan and prepare accommodations for any student who may need an accommodation according to the guidelines outlined in the “Accommodations” section of the manual.

21. Plan and Prepare Accommodations
The accommodations must
maintain the integrity of the assessment
avoid leading to or providing the student a direct answer
be used routinely in instruction
reflect the student’s learning styles
allow a student to respond using a mode that is appropriate for the student

22. Plan and Prepare Accommodations
Accommodations can be made to the two-dimensional images in the student booklet, the amount of information presented at one time, and the language used in the test administrator instructions.
Students also need to be given an opportunity to respond to test questions using a mode of response that is typical of the way the student responds during instruction.
Accommodations also include those changes to the test that allow a student to indicate the answer using the preferred student modality. Examples are provided in the test administrator manual.

23. Plan and Prepare Accommodations
The test administrator must present the accommodations uniformly so that the correct answer is not emphasized over the other answer choices.
Routinely used accommodations for positioning and behavioral supports can be provided for any student to ensure that the student can physically access the stimuli provided and maintain focus throughout the testing session.
It is appropriate to add language that encourages the student to stay on task.
It is not appropriate to add language about the content of the question.

24. Every attempt must be made to complete the assessment during the window.
If the assessment cannot be completed within the window, enter the score for the portion of the testing the student was able to complete into the online transcription form in TestNav.
If a student cannot complete testing within the window due to his or her disability or other administration obstacles, contact TEA for guidance.
If the district has an extended student holiday during the window, the district may request an alternate testing date from the security team at TEA.
If a student enrolls in the district on the first day of the assessment window the student must be tested.
If the student enrolls after the first day of the assessment window the student is not tested.

25. Texas Assessment Management System Tasks for Test Administrators
Transcribe Student Responses into TestNav
After student authorizations have been printed, student responses can be added into TestNav.
The test administrator will log in to TestNav using the student’s authorization ticket and transcribe student responses.
A student’s transcribed responses are automatically scored when the Final Submit button is clicked at the end of the test. It is not necessary to make a selection in the Score Code menu for student responses to be scored.

26. Transcribe Student Responses into TestNav
Students taking the STAAR Alternate 2 administration communicate answers directly to the test administrator.
The test administrator records the student’s responses on the STAAR Alternate 2 Scoring Document based on scoring information provided for each item.

27. Transcribe Student Responses into TestNav
Student responses must be transferred from the STAAR Alternate 2 Scoring Document to the online form in TestNav. This process is identical to that of paper administrations of STAAR L, STAAR A, and TELPAS.

28. Transcribe Student Responses into TestNav
Each screen will have one question. On the screen for each question, enter the student response by selecting the appropriate bubble.

29. Submit Tests to be Scored
A student’s transcribed responses are automatically scored when the Final Submit button is clicked at the end of the test. It is not necessary to make a selection in the Score Code menu for tests to be scored.
If the student was in attendance during the 10-day testing window but was not able to finish the test, the test is scored according to the data that were entered into the system for the sections that were completed.

30. Enter Score Codes
If a student does not complete the test, one of the following score codes must be selected when marking the student’s test complete.
A = Absent
Student is absent throughout the testing window. A student should not be marked absent if the student was absent on the testing days but also fits one of the score designations below.
M = Medical Exception
Student does not participate in the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment on the basis of the student’s medical condition, as determined by the ARD committee and documented in the student’s IEP. A decision not to assess a student based on a medical exception should be rare.

31. Enter Score Codes
N = No Authentic Academic Response (NAAR) The student is unable to participate meaningfully in the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment on the basis of the student’s disability, resulting in the inability to make an authentic response to stimuli presented in the test booklet, as determined by the ARD committee and documented in the student’s IEP. A decision not to assess a student should be rare.
O = Other Student Not to Be Scored
The student experiences a test administration irregularity or illness during testing.

32. Enter Accommodations Information
Test administrators or other campus personnel will complete the accommodations information for each assessment after the student responses have been transcribed and submitted through TestNav.
If a student was provided accommodations, the accommodations must be indicated in the accommodations drop-down menus on the Student Test Details screen.
On the Student Test Details screen, indicate the accommodations that were used during the assessment by selecting “Yes” from the drop-down menu next to the accommodation.
If an accommodation was not used, the field should be left in the “No” position.

33. Test Results
The standard setting committee will meet in April to make recommendations for cut scores to be approved by the commissioner of education.
Score reports will include the individual performance level ratings of students, scale scores, and number of questions answered correctly within each reporting category for each of the assessed grades and content areas.
Score reports are due in district:
May 22, 2015 (grades 3 – 8)
June 5, 2015 (EOC)

34. Resources Educator Guide for STAAR A and STAAR Alternate 2
User’s Guide for the Texas Assessment Management System
2015 District and Campus Coordinator Manual
STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator Manuals
TestNav 7 Combined Technical Guide
STAAR Alternate 2 Sample Items
STAAR Alternate 2 Administration Participation Collection (broadcast )
STAAR Alternate 2 Medical Exception Eligibility Requirements
STAAR Alternate 2 No Authentic Academic Response Eligibility Requirements
Fall TETN Presentation PowerPoint

35. STAAR A

36. STAAR A is an accommodated version of STAAR for students who meet eligibility requirements. STAAR A will be administered for the first time in spring 2015.
Grade/Course
Subject 3
mathematics and reading 4
mathematics, reading, and writing 5
mathematics, reading, and science 6 7 8
mathematics, reading, science, and social studies
EOC
Algebra I, English I, English II, biology, and U.S. history

37. Embedded Accommodations Accessibility Features
STAAR A will be administered online and will include online tools, embedded accommodations to selections and test questions, and accessibility features.
Tools
Embedded Accommodations
Accessibility Features
Answer Eliminator
Pop-ups
Text-to-Speech
Highlighter
Rollovers
Zoom
Eraser
Blank Graphic Organizers
Color and Contrast
Pencil
Writing Checklists
Place Marker
Notepad
Dot Tool*
Line Tool*
Ruler*
Calculator*
Reference Materials*
*These tools are subject-specific and only appear in subject tests where they are relevant.

38. STAAR A will be the same as STAAR in the following ways:
passing standards
time limits
assessed curriculum
test blueprint
progress measures
STAAR A will be different than STAAR in the following ways:
no field test questions
online administration
embedded accommodations and accessibility features

39. STAAR A Eligibility Requirements
STAAR, with or without allowable or approved accommodations from the accommodation triangle, should be the first consideration.
If a student cannot access STAAR with or without allowable accommodations, he or she must be receiving the following services in order to consider STAAR A:
students with identified disabilities who are receiving special education services
students identified with dyslexia or a related disorder (as defined in Texas Education Code §38.003) who are receiving Section 504 services

40. STAAR A Eligibility Requirements
If a student falls into one of these categories, the STAAR A Eligibility Requirements may be reviewed. Additional eligibility criteria found in this document must be met in order for a student to take STAAR A.
The ARD or Section 504 committee (in conjunction with the LPAC if the student is an ELL) must use TEA’s STAAR A Eligibility Requirements form to document eligibility for STAAR A.

41. STAAR A Eligibility Requirements
The appropriate committee must complete the requested information about the student and the role of the person completing the form and then read and agree to certain assurances prior to moving on to Step I.
STAAR does not best meet the student’s needs.
Classroom accommodations are documented.
Student meets eligibility criteria in Step I and Step II.
Assessment decision is documented.

42. STAAR A Eligibility Requirements
Step I: Indicate the services the student receives.
Step II: The ARD or Section 504 committee must circle the subject(s) for which STAAR A is being considered and check the accommodation(s) the student routinely receives in the classroom for that subject.

43. STAAR A Eligibility Requirements
Step II continued: To be eligible to participate in STAAR A in a particular subject, TWO OR MORE accommodation must be checked in that subject.
If fewer than two accommodations are checked, the student is not eligible to participate in STAAR A in that subject.
Eligible
Not

44. STAAR A Eligibility Requirements
Step III: Summarize Assessment Decision
The committee should indicate the STAAR A tests the student will take for the school year under consideration.
Additional testing accommodations may be allowed and must be documented in the student’s paperwork as well.
A student may take STAAR in some subjects and STAAR A in other subjects, depending on eligibility.

45. STAAR A Embedded Accommodations and Accessibility Features
For detailed information regarding the embedded accommodations and accessibility features, including text-to-speech functionality, please refer to the Educator Guide to STAAR A and STAAR Alternate 2, which can be found on the STAAR A page of the TEA website.

46. Special Situations
Because STAAR A contains embedded accommodations and accessibility features presented in an online format, replicating these features in a paper or braille version is not always possible.
Technology-based accommodations enable most students
to test online.
When the use of an accommodation is not feasible or appropriate, or if the administration of an online test is inappropriate due to a student's particular disability, a special request may be made to TEA for approval to administer a paper test booklet. The paper administration request document can be found on the Coordinator Manual Resources web page.
Braille versions of STAAR A are not available.

47. Special Situations STAAR A is only offered in English.
For students who are eligible for STAAR A but who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and cannot access the text-to-speech function, a signed administration is allowed for those parts of the test that can be read aloud.
A student does not have to be eligible for an oral administration to receive a signed administration of STAAR A.
The test administrator should also read the specific guidelines for signing test content included in the document titled “General Instructions for Administering State Assessments to Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing,” located on the Accommodation for Students With Disabilities webpage.

48. Grade 4 Writing
For the 2015 administration of STAAR A, it is not necessary for students taking 4th grade STAAR A writing to meet the eligibility criteria for Basic Transcribing.
This specific group of students may have their writing compositions transcribed into the online form in TestNav in accordance with guidelines listed in the accommodations triangle document for Basic Transcribing.
Note: This is not a requirement of the administration and decisions regarding this provision must be based on individual student need. TEA will review this policy for subsequent administration years.
Students in all other grades and subjects must meet the eligibility requirements for Basic Transcribing as described in the corresponding document found in the accommodations triangle.

49. STAAR A Test Results STAAR A score reports will include Grades 3–8 EOC
individual performance level of students
scale scores
number of questions answered correctly within each reporting category for each of the assessed grades and content areas
Grades 3–8
English and Spanish brochures, called Understanding the Confidential Student Report, explain STAAR A results to parents and are sent to districts with students’ test results and can be accessed online.
EOC
The explanation of results is included in the student’s Confidential Student Report (CSR).
Detailed information about STAAR A score reports will be provided in the TEA publication titled Interpreting Assessment Reports, which is updated annually and posted on the TEA Student Assessment Division website.

50. STAAR A Resources
TEA’s STAAR A Resources webpage is located at
TEA recommends that teachers become familiar with STAAR A and help guide students through practice selections and test questions until they are comfortable with the STAAR A online testing interface and accommodations.
demonstration video for teachers and test administrators
sample selections and test questions
student tutorials with practice selections and test questions
student tutorial administration directions

51. STAAR A Resources
Additional resources to assist educators and parents with STAAR A policy and questions include:
Educator Guide for STAAR A and STAAR Alternate
STAAR A Accommodation Guidelines
STAAR A Eligibility Requirements (English and Spanish)
Introduction to STAAR A: A Guide for Parents
A Parent’s Guide to State Assessments for Students
with Disabilities
STAAR A September 24, 2014 TETN PowerPoint
STAAR A Questions and Answers November 17, 2014
TETN PowerPoint

52. STAAR A Resources
Other resources available that may be helpful in preparing students to take an online test include:
STAAR Writing Tool (ePAT) includes instructions on how to use the typing tools for the written composition:
STAAR L Student Tutorials and Practice Sets to practice using pop-ups and rollovers:
SOA Student Tutorial to practice using text-to-speech:

53. Support Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Phone: (512)
Pearson’s Austin Operations Center
Phone: (800)