Sample Parent/Guardian Letter Before Testing

NOTE: Before this letter is distributed, be sure to insert the information required in brackets and in bold.

Dear Parents or Guardians:

This spring, your student, along with all California public school students in grades two through eleven, will take part in the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program. All English learners, including your student, must take the STAR Program tests that are administered in English. These tests include the California Standards Tests (CSTs) and the California Achievement Tests, Sixth Edition Survey (CAT/6 Survey). The CAT/6 Survey is given in grades three and seven only.

In addition, state law (Education Code Section 60640) requires all Spanish-speaking English learners in grades two through eleven to take a designated primary language test (DPLT) if:

• They receive instruction in Spanish (regardless of how long they have been in school in the United States), or
• They have been enrolled in a school in the United States for less than 12 months (cumulative).

At the option of the school district, schools also may test Spanish-speaking English learners who have been in a United States school 12 months or more (cumulative) and who are not receiving instruction in Spanish. English learners who speak a primary language other than Spanish will not participate in a designated primary language test.

If your student is eligible to take a DPLT, he or she will take one of the following two tests:

• English learners in grades two through seven take the Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS).
• English learners in grades eight through eleven take the Aprenda, La prueba de logros en español, Tercera edición (Aprenda 3).

Results of the STAR Program tests provide important information about how well your student is learning at our school. To help your student do his or her best on testing day, please make sure your student attends school, gets a good night’s rest, and has a healthy breakfast.

Your student’s results on the STS or Aprenda 3 will be sent to your home address in a report that is separate from the report for other STAR Program tests. Student test results are confidential and will be shared only with parents or guardians and the student’s teacher(s). Please keep these test reports for use when talking with the teacher(s) about ways to support your student’s academic progress.

The 2008 STAR Program tests for all students (including English learners) are to be given in our school district on the following dates:

Contact [Insert local contact information] during regular school hours if you have questions about the STS, Aprenda 3, the STAR Program, or the testing schedule.

* These writing tests are part of the CSTs in English-language arts in grades four and seven.