September 2008 Item 6 Addendum 2 AAV

This is an accessible alternative version of the September 2008 Agenda Item 6 Addendum 2 (PDF; 942KB; 1p.). Posted on the September 2008 Agenda Web page.

This page is the home page for the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program site that provides information to learn more about the California Standards Tests (CSTs) and the STAR Program including sample test questions.

There are links located across the top of the page that will take you to “Home,” “Sample Test Questions,” “Resources,” and an e-mail link that reads “Contact Us.”

Below the word links mentioned earlier are three large photos. From left to right there is a picture of a young girl holding a spiral-bound writing tablet. Over the picture are the words “About Star.” If you select this link, you will be directed to more information about STAR, including sample test questions.

The second picture is of a man and young boy pointing to information in a book on a flat surface, presumably a text book. Over the picture are the words, “Parents and Community Members.” If you select this link, you will be directed to information for parents and other community members, including sample test questions.  

The third picture is of two women; one is standing and the other sitting. The woman sitting is being shown something in a book by the standing woman. Over the picture is the word “Educators.” If you select this link, you will be directed to more information for teachers about the STAR Program, including sample test questions.

Page 4 of the September 2008 State Board of Education Item Addendum 17, attachment one, is a sample of a STAR Student Report. On the report is the student’s number, date of birth, test date, and grade level. It is formatted so that it can be easily mailed to the parents or guardians of the child, with the child’s name, address, city, state, and zip code. The name of the school and district are also present. A short note from Jack O’Connell, State Superintendent of Public Instruction reads,

“Each year, California’s Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program measures your child’s progress in meeting California’s world class content standards. These standards describe what all students should know and be able to do at each grade level.

This report shows your child’s scores on the STAR Program tests. I encourage you to discuss these results with your child and your child’s teacher(s). Besides giving you valuable information about your child’s academic strengths and weaknesses, test scores help us understand how well our schools are doing and how we might do better in the most important job of all – preparing students to succeed in school and beyond. Sincerely, Jack O’Connell, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.”

The next section of this page illustrates the child’s scale scores and performance levels in English-language arts (ELA) and mathematics. It is titled, “Your Child’s Overall Results on the California Standards Tests”. This section presents two side-by-side bar charts that show the student’s scale scores and performance levels for the ELA and mathematics tests. The performance levels are listed from top to bottom: Advanced, Proficient, Basic, Below Basic, and Far Below Basic. A numeric score range corresponds to each performance level and a bar illustrates the actual score for the student in ELA and mathematics.

At the bottom of the page is a section asking, “How Should I Use These STAR Program Results?” The answer to this question follows as:

“These results are one of several tools used to follow your child’s educational progress. While they provide an important measure, they should be viewed with other available information about your child‘s achievement, such as classroom tests, assignments, and grades. These results are also intended to help ensure your child is getting the best possible education. If your child is not performing at the level you would like, these results can help guide a conversation with your child’s teacher in order to help focus on specific areas for improvement.”