Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program
STAR 2007 Test Results
The 2007 test results were released on August 15, 2007. There are four changes to the program results reported in spring 2007 from those reported in spring 2006: (1) the Standards Based tests in Spanish (STS) was administered to Spanish-speaking English learners in grades two through four, replacing Aprenda 3 for those grades; (2) grade seven students completing Algebra I were allowed to take the Algebra I test formally offered only in grades eight to eleven; (3) students in grades nine through eleven completing a world history course were allowed to take the world history test (formally given in grade ten only); and (4) the Early Assessment Program (EAP) results were provided on the grade eleven individual student reports.
Districts have the option of correcting inaccurate student demographic data that were submitted by them. The data correction process is completed by the end of October, and final 2007 results will be posted on the Internet during December.
State, county, district, and school results for all tests within the STAR Program are available on the California Department of Education's (CDE) STAR Results Web Page.
Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS) Blueprints
At the September 2007 meeting, the State Board of Education (SBE) approved the proposed blueprints for the STS for reading/language arts for grades eight through eleven and the mathematics blueprints for Algebra I and Geometry.
The approved blueprints can be found in SBE agenda Item 40 (DOC; 601KB; 21pp.).
California Modified Assessment (CMA) Blueprints
At the September 2007 meeting, the SBE approved the proposed CMA blueprints for grades six, seven, and eight for English-language arts, grades six and seven for mathematics, and grade eight for science. Blueprints for the end-of-course tests, such as algebra, geometry, biology, and earth science will be developed next year.
In May 2007, the SBE approved CMA blueprints for grades two through five in English-language arts and mathematics, and grade five in science. These grades will be field-tested in September 2007.
The CMA blueprints can be found in SBE agenda SBE agenda Item 41 (DOC; 576KB; 26pp.).
CMA Participation Criteria
Using the guidance provided by the federal regulations, the CDE has developed the draft participation criteria to be used by an individualized education program (IEP) team in its determination of whether a student should be assessed using the CMA.
The suggested CMA participation criteria is posted on the CDE Web site and can be found in SBE agenda Item 42 (DOC;110KB; 5pp.). Feedback is appreciated regarding the suggested CMA participation criteria via e-mail at star@cde.ca.gov or via fax at 916-319-0969.
Standard Setting
Education Testing Service and the CDE have decided to postpone the Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS) standard setting for grades 2 through 4 until additional data can be collected from the spring 2008 administration. Standard setting for grades 2,3, and 4 had been scheduled for this fall; instead, cut scores and performance levels for these grades will be decided in fall 2008. As a result, STS scores for the spring 2008 administration will be reported as percent correct for all grades.
For additional information on the STAR tests, please refer to the SBE agenda Item 43 (DOC; 87KB; 2pp.).
California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE)
Selection of Contractor for the Independent Evaluation of the CAHSEE
Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO) has been the CAHSEE independent evaluator since the inception of the CAHSEE in 2000. On May 23, 2007, CDE released a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new CAHSEE independent evaluator contract. Based on this competitive process, HumRRO was awarded the CAHSEE independent evaluation contract for the period of 2007-2010.
CAHSEE Summary of Results for 2006-07
Summary results from the 2006-07 CAHSEE test administrations were publicly released on Thursday, August 23, 2007, on CDE’s DataQuest Web site. The DataQuest Web site displays:
- Summary results for the July, October, November, and December 2006 administrations, as well as the February, March, and May 2007 administrations.
- Summary results at the school, school district, county, and state levels.
- Summary results for students by grade, gender, ethnicity, language fluency, socioeconomic status, and special education program participation.
CAHSEE Tentative Settlement
A tentative settlement in Valenzuela v. O’Connell et al. has been reached. The settlement proposal requires passage by the Legislature and approval by the Governor of Assembly Bill 347, which would ensure that students who have not passed CAHSEE and graduated may receive up to an additional two years of academic assistance from their school districts.
For additional information regarding the tentative Valenzuela settlement, please refer to SBE agenda Item 4 (DOC; 6135KB; 24pp.).
2006-07 California English Language Development Test (CELDT) Results
The posting of Initial Identification (II) results for 2006-07 will be in October 2007. The II results will be on the CDE Data Quest Web site along with Annual Assessment results that were posted in June 2007. State, county, district, and school level reports will be available on the CDE Dataquest Web site.
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) Peer Review
At the September 2007 meeting, the SBE approved the SBE’s subcommittee recommendations to adopt the CST and CAHSEE summary-level performance descriptions developed by HumRRO for submission to the U.S. Department of Education.
To view the proposed submission and the draft exemplar-based communication plan, please refer to the SBE agenda Item 7 (DOC; 73KB; 3pp.).
For more information about any of the mentioned SBE items, access the SBE September agenda.
