STAAR
In spring 2012, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) replaced the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). The STAAR program includes annual assessments for grades 3–8 in reading and mathematics; assessments in writing at grades 4 and 7; in science at grades 5 and 8; and in social studies at grade 8; and end-of-course (EOC) assessments for English I, English II, Algebra I, Biology and U.S History. Additional tests include STAAR-A, STAAR-L, and STAAR-ALT for students in special populations.
EOC: STAAR end-of-course exams are state mandated tests given during the final weeks of a course. In addition to meeting graduation course requirements, students are required to pass five end-of-course exams to earn a diploma from a Texas public high school. Those five exams are given when a student takes English I and II, Biology, Algebra I, and U.S. History courses.
For dates for the high school STAAR tests, please see the school calendar.
For more information:
TEA Resources: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/
TELPAS
WHAT IS TELPAS?
Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System
- Is designed to assess the progress that limited English proficient (LEP) students make in learning the English language.
- Is taken in kindergarten through grade 12 in four language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
- Assesses students in alignment with the Texas English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS), which are part of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The ELPS proficiency level descriptors (PLDs) present the major characteristics of each language proficiency level in each language domain. The PLDs define how well ELLs at the four proficiency levels are able to understand and use English in grade-level academic settings.
Student performance is reported in terms of four English language proficiency levels: beginning, intermediate, advanced, and advanced high.
WHO TAKES TELPAS?
All limited English proficient students as identified by the bilingual student placement center.
WHAT IS TELPAS ONLINE?
An online reading test based on multiple choice questions used to determine students English reading levels.
TELPAS RATER ONLINE TRAINING AND CALIBRATION ACTIVITIES.
- Teachers are trained to use proficiency level descriptors to determine the English language proficiency levels of students based on classroom observations and written student work.
- Teachers are required to go online and pass calibration tests that assess the teacher’s knowledge of rating various student TELPAS writing, listening and speaking samples. A teacher must successfully calibrate every year in order to qualify to assess students TELPAS ratings. After passing the TELPAS calibration test the teacher is also required to go online and pass a refresher TELPAS training course where the teacher rates various writing samples.
WHAT IS TELPAS USED FOR?
TELPAS results are used to meet state and federal reporting and accountability requirements teachers are trained to use proficiency level descriptors (assessment guidelines) to determine the English language proficiency levels of students based on classroom observations and written student work.
- Beginning (Little or no English ability)
- Intermediate (Limited ability, simple language structures, high-frequency vocabulary, routine contexts)
- Advanced (Grade appropriate, with second language acquisition support)
- Advanced High (Grade appropriate, with minimal second language acquisition support)
TELPAS RESULTS ARE USED IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:
- To help parents monitor the progress their children make in learning English.
- To inform instructional planning and program exit decisions for individual students.
- To report performance to local school boards, school professionals, and the community.
- To evaluate programs, resources, and staffing patterns.
- To evaluate districts and campuses in a variety of state and federal accountability measures.
Click here for TEA Resources: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/ell/telpas/