Thursday, January 8, 2015

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.

Build a Personal Learning Network with Campus Leaders This Year

Networking for Campus Leadership


Dates to network with other campus leaders during the 2014-2015 school year.

  • October 23, 2014
  • Nov. 20, 2014
  • Jan. 20, 2015
  • March 24, 2015

Times
  • 9:00 am - 12:00 noon 
  • 3 hour credit
Register for the Network Session.
Each session will include different information.  Choose to come for part or all day.

Location for the meetings will be held at the Region 7 ESC, in Kilgore however a virtual connection will also be available in real time and recorded to watch at a later date.  Consider driving with someone nearby to have a mobile meeting!

Agenda for each meeting will include:
  • Discussions and new ideas
  • Key local and state issues
  • Support and collaboration
  • and a demonstration and application of digital learning tools.
Learning how to manage and incorporate digital learning, like any complex and evolving discipline, can best be accomplished with help from a personal learning network.

Coaching Leaders of Learners: Feb. 16th

Coaching Leaders of Learners

Monday, Feb. 16, 2015

Coaching is an incredibly powerful way for education leaders, like you, to make an immediate, significant impact in the schools where you lead.  Join us to continue and refine your practice.
Session #046994

This learning session is designed specifically for district and campus leaders who are committed to engaging in conversations that lead to transformation in the classroom. The new state evaluation tool for teachers and principals will be incorporated into this interactive session for leaders seeking to support growth in a learning environment.





Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Check out #APrincipalsDay on Twitter and Instagram

Education Week has challenged school principals to share pictures of how they spend their day on Wednesday Jan. 7th, or later.

If you follow the hashtag #APrincipalsDay on Twitter and/or Instagram you will finally find out what happens behind the scenes.

Edweek Article < Click here

Our aim is to gather a wide variety of images from school leaders in remote, rural, suburban, urban, and even international settings to show the differences and similarities that principals share in their demanding, yet rewarding jobs.




Disclaimer: Due to the nature of the job of the principal you will not get a complete picture of the day in the life of a school principal. But you should get pictures of the best parts!