Changes to the STAAR Grades 5 and 8 Mathematics Test Administrations

As previously announced earlier this school year, Commissioner Williams has shifted the administration date for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) mathematics assessments for grades 5 and 8 from March 30, 2015, to April 20, 2015. Information about how this change affects the preparation for and administration of the March and April 2015 STAAR assessments is outlined below.

MARCH 2015 STAAR ASSESSMENTS

·         Administration dates – The administration dates for STAAR grades 4 and 7 writing, grades 5 and 8 reading, English I, and English II have not changed.

o   March 30             Grades 4 and 7 writing (day 1)

                                English I

o   March 31             Grades 4 and 7 writing (day 2)

Grades 5 and 8 reading

o   April 1                   English II

•        Answer documents – The March 2015 STAAR answer documents, which contain sections for both mathematics and reading, were printed prior to the decision to shift the grades 5 and 8 mathematics administration date. These answer documents will still be used for the March administration of the STAAR grades 5 and 8 reading assessments.   They will be labeled “March 2015 Mathematics and Reading” and will contain sections for student responses for both subject areas.

The mathematics section will not be used during the March 2015 reading administration. Make sure students mark their responses to the reading questions on the reading portion of the answer document. Leave the SCORE CODE and TEST TAKEN INFO fields blank for mathematics.

•        Test booklets – The March 2015 STAAR test booklets for grades 5 and 8 will include reading only.

•        Answer Document Packing Lists (ADPLs) – The March ADPLs will not change. To complete the March ADPLs, enter the number of answer documents that are being returned and then return the ADPLs with your scorable materials.

APRIL 2015 STAAR ASSESSMENTS

Administration dates – STAAR mathematics assessments for grades 5 and 8 are scheduled to be administered on April 20, 2015. The administration dates for STAAR grades 3, 4, 6, and 7 mathematics; grades 5 and 8 science; and grade 8 social studies have not changed.  The administration date for grades 5 and 8 mathematics has been added to the April 2015 testing schedule.    

o   April 20                 Grades 5 and 8 mathematics

o   April 21                 Grades 3, 4, 6, and 7 mathematics

Grade 8 social studies

o   April 22                 Grades 3, 4, 6, and 7 reading

Grades 5 and 8 science

•        Answer Documents – For grades 5 and 8, districts will receive one Campus Precode Student List per grade and campus. Two sets of answer documents—one for mathematics and one for science and social studies—will be provided. Both sets of answer documents will be precoded with the same data. If you need to update any demographic information, make the updates on both answer documents.

A second copy of the March 2015 answer documents will be sent to districts to use for the April administration of the grades 5 and 8 mathematics tests. These answer documents will contain sections for both mathematics and reading; however, the reading section will not be used during the April administration of mathematics.  Make sure students mark their responses to the mathematics questions on the mathematics portion of the answer document. Leave the SCORE CODE and TEST TAKEN INFO fields blank for reading.

•        Test booklets – The April 2015 STAAR mathematics test booklets for grades 5 and 8 will include mathematics only. Grade 5 science and grade 8 social studies and science test booklets will not change. 

Answer Document Packing Lists (ADPLs) – April's Answer Document Packing Lists will not change. To complete the April Answer Document Packing Lists, enter the total number of answer documents that are being returned. Mark the total number of grade 5 answer documents (science answer documents and mathematics answer documents) and the total number of grade 8 answer documents (science/social studies answer documents and mathematics answer documents) in the correct column on the ADPL. Return the ADPLs with your scorable materials, which should be shipped by the date noted on the Calendar of Events.

REPORTS FOR MARCH AND APRIL ADMINISTRATIONS

Reports for the March 2015 STAAR grades 5 and 8 reading assessments (Confidential Student Reports, Confidential Campus Rosters, Summary Reports, and Student Data Files) will be available only online and are expected to be posted by April 15, 2015. Paper reports will not be produced on this same timeline. Emails will be sent to districts once online reports have been posted.

Paper reports for grades 3–8 will be provided to districts by May 22, 2015. There will be one set of reports for grades 5 and 8 mathematics and reading and one set of reports for the other grades and subjects administered in spring 2015. Online reports for grades 5 and 8 mathematics and reading will be updated to include results from both the March reading and the April mathematics administrations.

Spring 2015 reports for grades 3–8 mathematics will contain only raw score information. Updated reports for grades 3–8 with scale scores and pass/fail information will be sent in early September, after performance standards for the new mathematics assessments have been set.

For questions concerning the changes to the STAAR grades 5 and 8 mathematics test administrations, please contact the TEA Student Assessment Division at 512-463-9536.