State Assessment News & Updates

• April 22 - STAAR Science at elementary and middle schools⭐
• April 22 - STAAR U.S. History & Biology at high schools ⭐
• April 23 - STAAR Social Studies at middle schools⭐
• April 24 - final day of STAAR Science & Social Studies make-ups ⭐

• April 29-30 - STAAR Mathematics on all campuses ⭐
• May 1 - final day of STAAR Mathematics make-ups ⭐

• May 23 - Staff Planning & Prep Day 📝
• May 26 - HOLIDAY! 🏖️

Thank you for your work last week. I know you have put in months of work for a few smooth days.

I've shared these "troubleshooting tips" to refresh your memory of some of the things that can go wrong and be prepared...just in case. Let me know if you encounter something you cannot figure out.

I'll be available at my desk until at least 4:30 today and test days, and can stay later if you let me know you need help after 4:30. I'll be at my desk before 7:30am each day of testing, so feel free to call if needed.

For the quickest help by phone, call me at 40126 from your office when possible. I will prioritize calls that are from your office because I see your name pop up on my phone. I will also prioritize other campus numbers over cell phones in most cases. (Although I realize it's sometimes easier to call on your cell, it is faster for me to return your call if you're using a PfISD number.) If I miss your call, it's usually because I'm speaking with someone else. In this case, I will usually return missed calls within a few minutes.

If there is any hot news that needs to be shared widely, I will usually email you and your campus principal to get information out as quickly as possible. It's helpful if you can keep an eye on your email, but I'm optimistic that it won't be necessary!

Thank you for the work you've done all year to ensure your students and staff are well-prepared to do their best over the next few weeks. I'm certain your efforts will be reflected in a smooth experience for everyone. Let the games begin!

Tip #1 - Please ask your hall monitors, relief staff and other campus administrators to remind test administrators to document the STOP time for each session on the seating chart. Staff can provide reminders and double check seating charts before test administrators submit materials to you.

Tip #2 - As you are receiving materials, ask each test administrator to highlight the START/STOP time as they wait to check in. Have some highlighters available!

Tip #3 - If you have several test administrators waiting to check-in, have them check the START/STOP times for the person behind them in line.

If you need to catch up, find links to this newsletter on the Resources page of our PfISD State Assessments website.

Review the STAAR scheduling policy to ensure you are complying with district procedures as published, shared with the community and discussed in trainings.

All campuses should have a plan in place to begin testing within 30 minutes of the regular school day.

April 22 ⭐

High schools administer STAAR EOC Biology & STAAR EOC U.S. History, students who need to take both tests will take second test on April 23, make-ups begin day after test was scheduled, final make-ups April 24

Elementary & middle schools administer Science grades 5/8, make-ups begin day after test was scheduled, final make-ups April 24

April 23 ⭐

High schools administer second test for students who need both tests (Biology, U.S. History)

Middle schools administer Social Studies grade 8, final make-ups April 24

April 29-30 ⭐

Campus schedules all STAAR Mathematics, must begin April 29, make-ups begin day after test was scheduled, final make-ups May 1

Find the full calendar at this link.

Each campus coordinator will submit a daily Check-in Form within 1 hour of last student finishing or within one hour of the end of the regular school day.

Find the form at this link.

Here's a checklist to help you remember some of the important daily tasks that must be completed during each STAAR administration.

This is an informal reminder of some daily tasks that you might find helpful.

👀For the official & required Check-in Form, see below. 👇

By popular demand, here's your required STAAR Check-in Form.

Several items can be taken care of now! Others will be handled during and after the administration.

Take some time to carefully review the checklist and call NOW with any questions.

Find Key Dates for the upcoming STAAR administration at this link.

Make additional copies if you do not receive sufficient quantities. Find the materials at this link to make copies AFTER you receive the quantities I have ordered.

The home campus coordinator is responsible for communicating regarding students who will be testing off campus (including OC, students receiving homebound services, and other unique situations). Final details for upcoming STAAR administrations should now be in place.

We will have a new program for June 2025. Students will prep for 1-2 days (2 days of prep for EOC E1 & E2) and then take their test on the next day. More information is available here.

➡️Positions for a STAAR coordinator and teachers/test administrators are now posted.

STAAR EOC English I & II

Test Prep Days (2 days) - June 16 & 17

Test Days - June 18, students who need to take both EOC tests, will take the 2nd test on June 19

STAAR EOC Algebra I

Test Prep Day - June 23

Test Day - June 24

STAAR EOC U.S. History

Test Prep Day - June 23

Test Day - June 24

STAAR EOC Biology

Test Prep Day - June 25

Test Day - June 26

Each principal and campus coordinator is responsible for ensuring that all eligible students participate in the TELPAS & STAAR administrations, including alternate assessments. For students who do not participate, usually due to an absence in Skyward, we are required to retain auditable documentation for 5 years.

<<LINK INCLUDED HERE IN YOUR THE EMAIL YOU RECEIVED on 2.20.2025.>>

“S” (for score) is automatically assigned to a test submitted by a student with no further action required by the campus coordinator. All other tests require documentation that is auditable.

The deadlines are very tight with absolutely no flexibility due to TEA's deadlines. All score codes are required to be submitted in TIDE no later than:

• STAAR Alternate 2 – due April 14 (or April 7 for Early Birds)
• April STAAR RLA – due no later than 4pm on April 17 (BEFORE April 18 holiday)
• April STAAR SC/SC – due no later than noon on April 25
• May STAAR Mathematics – due no later than noon on May 2

Detailed instructions are included on the first tab of the document linked above.

You may want to train another administrator or trusted staff person to help monitor attendance, prepare for make-ups and maintain this documentation for each day of testing. While score codes will be submitted in TIDE only at the very end of the administration, you will not wait until the end of the administration to begin putting this documentation together.

It is imperative that great care is taken when documenting score codes in TIDE. Making corrections is not always possible, and score codes impact state accountability calculations.

Score code documentation and submission in TIDE is a priority, as noted above. After score codes are documented and submitted in TIDE, the campus coordinator will ensure required documentation is saved in the designated locations. Required documentation is due no later than:

• STAAR Alternate 2 – due April 14 (or April 7 for Early Birds)
• April STAAR RLA – due no later than noon on Monday, April 21
• April STAAR SC/SC – due no later than noon on Monday, April 28
• May STAAR Mathematics – due no later than noon on Monday, May 5

Each campus has a "Documentation" folder that includes subfolders by administration with subfolders for each of the required documents. Refer to your check-in document for instructions.

Find your folders here: S:\StateAssessments\<<YOUR CAMPUS>>\2024-2025\Documentation

Each student must test on a PfISD managed device. Chromebooks are preferred. Devices should be routinely used in class.

If additional devices are needed, Windows devices (laptops, desktops) may be used. The campus coordinator is responsible for installing the Secure Test Browser for 2024-2025. This does not need to be installed if it has previously been installed for interims or TELPAS in 2024-2025. More information is available here.

To ensure each campus is well-prepared to begin the upcoming administrations, here are some technology-related tips that may be helpful.

Let me know if you have any tips to share.

Are your student alerts all up-to-date? It's STAAR season, so be sure to log in daily to review all alerts and clear up any questions right away.

Each test administration should be built with students and test administrators assigned to a room no later than 1 week prior to the test administration. Changes may continue to occur, but the bulk of the work should be completed no later than 1 week prior to each administration.

Upcoming Training Opportunities - Find the link and/or preregister at this link (must be logged in to Testhound).

• Testhound Tune-Ups (live work sessions, bring your questions)
• Tuesday, April 22, 1:30-2 PM CT
• Wednesday, April 23, 10-10:30 AM CT
• Thursday, April 24, 9-9:30 AM CT
• Monday, April 28, 2-2:30 PM CT
• Tuesday, April 29, 1:30-2 PM CT
• Wednesday, April 30, 10-10:30 AM CT

🚀Testhounds celebrated 20 years at RLES. 🐶

Share your puppy pics here, please! Include the name of your campus when you save your photo in the designated folder.