STAAR Overview July 21, 2011 HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
New Test New Opportunities 2
A Brief History of Testing in Texas 3
TABS Exit-Level Math (Started in 1980) One Step: 1. Fewest barrels 4
TEAMS Exit-Level Math (Started in 1986) Two Steps: 1. Find point on graph 2. Multiply 30 pupils x $300 = $9,000 5
TAAS Exit-Level Math (Started in 1991) Three Steps: 1. Find paper on pie chart 2. Divide tons of paper by total tons: 72/180 3. Convert to 40% 6
TAKS Exit-Level Math (Started in 2003) Five Steps: 1. Add all votes 240 + 420 + 180 + 300 + 60 = 1,200 2. Determine which student finished 3 rd (Bridget: 240 votes) 3. Determine Bridget s percentage of votes 240 / 1,200 = 20% 4. Know that a pie chart has 360 total degrees 5. Determine 20% of 360 degrees:.20 x 360 = 72 7
Five Steps: 1. The student must know 2 b how 4ac to apply the quadratic formula to find the value of the discriminant 2. Find quadratic equation on formula chart: 3. If there are two real number roots of the equation and the graph of the parabola crosses the x-axis at those roots 2 4. If there is a b multiple 4ac 0or repeated root of the equation and the vertex of the graph of the parabola touches the x-axis at that root 5. If the roots of the equation are imaginary numbers and the graph of the parabola does not 2 intersect the b x-axis 4ac 0 STAAR Exit-Level Math (Starts in 2012) b 2 4ac 0 8
What do we know about STAAR? Will begin in 2011 12 Grades 3 through 8 First year 9 th graders 10 th and 11 th graders will still take TAKS 9
WHAT TESTS WILL STUDENTS HAVE TO TAKE? Grades 3-8 Reading Gr. 3-8 Math Gr. 3-8 Writing Gr. 4 & 7 Science Gr. 5 & 8 Soc. Studies Gr. 8 High School COURSES Math English Science Soc Studies Algebra I Geometry Algebra II Eng I Eng II Eng III Biology Chemistry Physics World Geo. World Hist. U.S. History The high school level STAAR tests are COURSE tests, NOT grade-level tests 10
STAAR is an assessment of ACADEMIC READINESS 11
What does it mean to be an assessment of ACADEMIC READINESS? 12
TAKS Did our students learn what they were supposed to learn in their current grade or course? 13
STAAR Did our students learn what they were supposed to learn in their current grade or course? Are they ready for the next grade or course? And the one after that? 14
And ultimately ARE OUR STUDENTS READY FOR COLLEGE OR A CAREER? 15
What s tested on STAAR? The TEKS the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Readiness standards more items on the test Supporting standards fewer items on the test Process standards the skills assessed with other standards 16
STAAR will be significantly more rigorous than TAKS ST AAR 17
What does more rigorous mean? The questions are more complex and require more thinking The most important objectives for a student to learn in a grade level will have more questions on the test The test will be longer 18
STAAR is a longer test Math Gr. 3-8 = +6 questions Reading 3-8 = +4 questions Writing = +1 additional composition Science = +4 questions Social Studies Gr. 8 = +4 questions EOC = +2 to 13 questions 19
TAKS Item STAAR Item 1. 23 - -12 = 35 2. Bubble in D 1. 60 x 70 = 4200 2. 4200 175 = 24 3. 24 x 7 = 168 4. Bubble in G 20
Grade 8 Math TAKS STAAR Number of scored items 50 56 Average steps to solve each item 3 4 TOTAL STEPS 150 224 21
What will it take to pass STAAR? Students will have to get more items correct than on TAKS The passing standard will first be established for English III and Algebra II end of course tests Linked to college readiness standards beginning in 3 rd grade 22
How will student performance be reported? Advanced Academic Performance Satisfactory Academic Performance Unsatisfactory Academic Performance 23
NEW: Time limits EOCs: 4 hours Grades 3-8: 4 hours 24
Graduation plans Phase in Credit recovery 15% rule Cumulative scores Changes to the curriculum Changes to professional development 25
What about tests for students served in special education? Accommodations will be allowed STAAR Modified will be available for students who meet the criteria STAAR Alternate will be available for students who have significant cognitive disabilities 26
What about tests for students who are English Language Learners? Spanish version for Grades 3-5 Linguistic accommodations for most tests 27
Questions? 28