New postings at the Standardized Testing and Reporting Web site
STAR Management System Modules and Manuals
The Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) 2007 Management System modules and manuals (Administration Setup, Order Management, and Pre-ID) are available on the STAR Web site (Outside Source). All districts and charter schools testing independently from their authorizing agencies should have set up the STAR administration periods and ordered test materials for spring 2007. District Pre-ID deadlines are available by clicking the “Test Administration Summary” link in the Test Administration section in the left navigation bar in the STAR Management System.
2007 Pre-Test Workshops and CAPA Train-the-Trainer Workshops
The 2007 Pre-Test Workshop information is now available on the STAR Web site. All district STAR coordinators are encouraged to attend these workshops or to participate in the February 15, 2007, Webcast. The Pre-Test Workshops will cover the California Standards Tests (CSTs); California Achievement Test, Sixth Edition Survey (CAT/6 Survey); Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS); and the California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA). The Pre-Test and Aprenda workshops will be on the same day (see below for Aprenda 3 workshop information) and the CAPA Train-the-Trainer (CAPA examiner) workshop will be on a separate day.
New postings at the California Department of Education Web site
Matrix of Test Variations, Accommodations, and Modifications
The Matrix of Test Variations, Accommodations and Modifications for California Statewide Assessments is available on the California Department of Education (CDE) Student Testing Web site and has been updated to include the STS as well as the following changes:
- Student marks in test booklet (other than responses) are permissible. It is now noted that highlighters may be used, but in grades 2 and 3 booklets, all marks must be removed to avoid scanning interference or the booklets must be transcribed.
- Audio presentation (CD) has been added to test read aloud to student.
- The modifications for math and science have been separated to be specific for each subject for calculators, arithmetic tables and manipulatives, and formulas have been added as a modification to both the mathematics and science tests.
2007 STAR Item and Time Charts
The 2007 Item and Time Charts for the CSTs, CAT/6 Survey, STS, CAPA, and Aprenda 3 may be found on the CDE STAR Administrative Documents Web site. These charts show the tests administered for each grade/course, the number of questions for each test, and the estimated time to complete each test.
STAR Regulations
Revised STAR Regulations, Title 5, Education, Division 1, Chapter 2, Subchapter 3.75, Standardized Testing and Reporting Program, sections 850-870, were approved by the State Board of Education (SBE) and the California Office of Administrative Law. The revised STAR regulations became effective on December 8, 2006. You may find the regulations using a searchable database posted on the California Office of Administrative Law (Outside Source) Web site. The regulations include the following changes:
- Clarify and ensure consistency by removing names of specific tests and incorporating the designated primary language test regulations that are in Article 3 into Articles 1 and 2. This change significantly shortens the regulations and ensures that they are consistent across all components of the STAR Program.
- Delete definitions that are not needed and/or combine definitions.
- Expand the definition of alternate assessment to include both the CAPA and the California Modified Assessment.
- Add a definition of nonpublic school.
- Delete a section related to below grade level testing that applied only to the 2004-05 testing program.
- Add requirement for test proctors and scribes to sign security affidavits.
- Add language about testing students in nonpublic schools.
- Combine and modify language about writing in test booklets.
- Add the alternate assessment and designated primary language test to all appropriate sections in Articles 1 and 2.
- Delete sections that restated rather than clarified law.
- Modify language related to collecting student demographic data to conform to the language used by the CDE’s Data Management Division and the California School Information System.
- Update language to match the test ordering process.
- Change language and procedures related to the apportionment for the designated primary language test to conform this section to the language and procedures for the standards-based and designated achievement tests.
Aprenda 3 Pre-Test Workshops
Aprenda 3 pre-test workshops will be held on the same day as the STAR pre-test workshops and immediately after the STAR workshop session. Registration information has been e-mailed to Aprenda Test Coordinators. For more information, please contact the Harcourt Customer Support Center at 1-800-763-2306.
Pre-Identification (Pre-ID) Service Provided by California School Information Services (CSIS)
The CDE strongly recommends that district STAR coordinators process spring 2007 CST and CAPA Pre-ID files through the free CSIS Data Cleansing and Reporting Service before submitting the files to Educational Testing Service (ETS), the STAR test contractor, to print Pre-ID answer documents or labels. Since both CST and CAPA data are used in Academic Performance Index (API) Growth and AYP reporting, coordinators should ensure that data are as accurate as possible before submitting files to ETS. If there are any questions about CSIS data cleansing, please contact California School Information Services by phone at 916-325-9260 or by e-mail at ssid@csis.k12.ca.us.
Nonpublic School Codes
Each Nonpublic School (NPS) is now assigned a unique school code. The school code for the NPS in which each student is enrolled must be entered on student answer documents. The county-district-school (CDS) codes for NPSs are available in the School Directory on the CDE Web site.
STS and Dual Immersion Classrooms
Education Code Section 60640(f)(3)(g) defines the required population for the primary language assessment as stated below.
“A pupil identified as limited English proficient pursuant to the administration of a test made available pursuant to Section 60810 who is enrolled in any of grades 2 [3] to 11, inclusive, and who either receives instruction in his or her primary language or has been enrolled in a school in the United States for less than 12 months shall be required to take a test in his or her primary language if a test is available.”
Why is the STS not available for dual immersion classroom assessment of non-English learner (EL) students?
- State law only makes the assessment available to ELs who are required to take the tests (less than 12 months or receiving primary language instruction) or for ELs that a school wishes to assess. It does not provide funding or allow for the use of this assessment for students other than ELs.
What are current options for dual immersion classrooms?
- Districts may purchase tests directly from Harcourt for English only students in immersion programs for all grades, including students in grades two through four.
- Districts will administer Aprenda 3 to Spanish-speaking ELs in grades five through eleven for spring 2007.
- Districts may purchase any other available Spanish reference test.
Ordering Aprenda Test Materials
As part of the STAR testing
Aprenda test materials for Spanish-speaking EL students in grades five through eleven, both mandated and optional testing as part of the STAR Program, are ordered through the Harcourt Aprenda Spectrum order system. For technical assistance regarding STAR Aprenda materials call the Harcourt Customer Support Center at 1-800-763-2306. The state contract provides funding for students required to test and for ELs who, at the district’s option, may be tested.
- Mandatory testers are defined as:
- Spanish-speaking ELs in grades five through eleven who are receiving instruction in Spanish
- Spanish-speaking ELs who have been enrolled in a school in the United States less than 12 months and are not receiving instruction in their primary language
- At the option of the district, Spanish-speaking ELs in grades five through eleven enrolled more than 12 months who are not receiving instruction in Spanish may be tested with Designated Primary Language Test (DPLT) Aprenda 3 as part of the STAR Program.
Not part of the STAR testing
Aprenda orders for test materials for students not covered by the STAR Program may be ordered through the Harcourt Assessment, Inc. catalog process. Districts must pay directly for these test materials. Non-state funded materials include materials for:
- Spanish-speaking ELs in grades 1, 2, 3, 4 and 12 (Note: Spanish-speaking ELs in grades 2, 3 and 4 are to take the STS in 2007 as part of the STAR Program)
- Any students in grades two through eleven who are English only or Fluent English Proficient (e.g., non-ELs in dual immersion programs)
For technical assistance regarding ordering Aprenda catalog materials for students not covered by the STAR Program, call the Harcourt Customer Support Center at 1-800-763-2306.
Reporting Testing Irregularities
The 2007 STAR District and Test Site Coordinator Manual will again provide information on test irregularities and test administration errors, as well directions for reporting of inappropriate test preparation or testing irregularities to the CDE. Appendix H in the 2007 STAR District and Test Site Coordinator Manual includes forms to assist the coordinator in their reporting.
When an incident of inappropriate test preparation or a testing irregularity is reported to the district STAR coordinator, the coordinator is to then report it to CDE. The STAR Program—Irregularity Report Form should be completed and e-mailed to starirreg@cde.ca.gov or faxed to 916-319-0969. Upon receipt of the form, coordinators will be contacted by the CDE and will receive information for marking Box A2 Special Conditions on the student’s answer document.
Test administration errors are handled at the school district level. The STAR Program—Test Administration Incident Report Form may be used to document test administration errors. Administration errors should not be reported to the CDE.
In the case of student cheating, test examiners should mark “C” in Box A2 Special Conditions on the student’s answer document and notify the STAR test site coordinator after testing. Do not contact the CDE to report student cheating.
Note
Please regularly check the ETS STAR Program (Outside Source) Web site for updates on test administration set up, ordering materials, pre-ID, and upcoming workshops and Webcasts.
