State Assessment News & Updates

• Dec. 15 - Work Sessions (register in Kickup) - there's still time to come over!
• Dec. 16 (10am) - Pathways Demo (contact Kelly if you want to participate)
• Dec. 18 (8-9am) - Field Test Campus Coordinator Training (see below to receive invitation)
• Jan. 7 (2-3pm) - Field Test Campus Coordinator Training (see below to receive invitation)
• Jan. 9 or 12 - TELPAS Campus Coordinator Training (register in Kickup)
• Jan. 23 & 26 - Work Sessions (register in Kickup)
• Jan. 30 or Feb. 2 - STAAR Campus Coordinator Training (register in Kickup)
• March 27 - Work Session (register in Kickup)

Reach me at my desk most days from about 7:30-4:30. I'm always happy to stay later if you let me know you need help after 4:30pm.

💬Gmail Chat??? I'm trying to learn. Feel free to give it a try, and I'll do my best!

I was out sick most of last week, but I'm back today! I'm at Rock Gym for our work session today, and I'll be back at my desk tomorrow. Come over today or give me a call tomorrow if you need anything.

Take a look at these videos created to help students access the tools that are embedded in the online testing platform. Teachers will find the useful because they are organized by test subject.

The "Standard Navigation Tools" video helps students understand how to navigate through any test.

"How to Use the Context Tool Drop-down Menu" video demonstrates how to utilize the built-in tools that support organization, focus, and confidence on test day.

Share these with teachers and others who are helping students learn to use the online testing platform. This would be great to review prior to the upcoming field test, interims and TELPAS administrations.

Plan ahead!

• Next step will be to review Materials List that will be available in January. This is your opportunity to verify that you are receiving appropriate materials. You may need to place an additional order at this time if there have been changes since verification.
• Additional materials requested will be available AFTER the start of the SA2 administration window.

The Stand-Alone Field Test manual has recently been published. Copies were delivered to campuses around December 5 (in a brown envelope from KB). Make additional copies as needed.

Please use this link to select a training session on December 18 (8am) or January 7 (2pm).

• Campus coordinator will attend one training session.
• The campus coordinator agrees to be actively engaged in the complete training session. Arrange a quiet location free of distractions.
• Participants will not be admitted after the first 5 minutes of the training.
• Read the Stand Alone Field Test Manual prior to the start of the training session.
• Not signed up for training: Ina, Mike, PES, Kel, Felicia

Each campus has identified either February 3 or 4 for their test date. Please indicate your selected test date here. Make-up opportunities are encouraged but not required. See page 7 of the manual for more information.

• Missing test date: JCES, HHS, PHS

A reminder that all students in grades 3, 5 and 5 who are scheduled to take STAAR Spanish in Spring 2026 are required to participate in the field test. See page 6 of the manual for more information.

TIDE is not set up for TELPAS at this time, and campus coordinators are not authorized to work on TELPAS in TIDE until further notice. You may work in Testhound. Email Kelly if you are ready to work in TH and need access.

As we discussed at State Assessment Accessibility Training in October, TEA has clarified that anything used as a Supplemental Aid, including mnemonics, must help the student with content only and not testing strategy.

Examples of strategies that are NOT allowed:

• ❌ RACES (Restate the question, Answer the question, Cite evidence from the text, Explain your evidence, Sum it up or So what?)
• ❌ CUBES (Circle important words, Underline the question, Box key words, Eliminate extra information, Solve by showing work)
• ❌ Other mnemonics used for a strategy are not allowable mnemonic devices (Supplemental Aids) for STAAR testing

Teachers may use strategies in class, of course. Students may choose to write any mnemonic on their scratch paper after the test begins. Test administrators may NOT tell or require students to do this.

Two additional slides have been shared at this link and also below.

STAAR assessments, including accommodated versions, and TELPAS listening and speaking assessments and reading and writing assessments are administered online. However, some students might be eligible for special paper or holistic administrations in rare, unavoidable circumstances where students cannot access an online assessment or a testing accommodation cannot be provided in an online setting. Find more information in our State Assessment Accessibility Training slides.

Requests for TELPAS are due December 18.

Requests for Spring STAAR administrations are due January 26.

Eligibility Requirements (with examples)

Accommodation Cannot be Applied

✔️a student requires braille materials for Interims (does not require TEA approval for STAAR)

✔️a student accesses accommodations via technology that is not embedded in the Secure Test Browser

Unable to Participate in One Domain of TELPAS

✔️a student communicates with eye blinks and ARD committee has determined the student cannot be assessed by an online speaking assessment (TELPAS), student will be holistically rated in listening

✔️a student is deaf and ARD committee has determined the student cannot be assessed in listening, student will be holistically rated in speaking

Technology Access is Precluded

✔️a student experiences adverse health (seizures, spasms, headaches) when exposed to certain types of monitors

✔️a student is participating in an assessment in a setting that does not offer reliable internet access
✔️a student is precluded by a court order from accessing the internet

Be aware:
🚫A special administration will not be approved because a student knows very little English.

🚫A special administration will not be approved because a student has limited exposure to computers.
🚫A special administration will not be approved because another mode (paper, holistic) is preferred.

As the campus coordinator for STAAR, you have already marked training dates on your calendar based on the schedule I have shared. Find more information on our training schedule linked below.

Registration is now available in Kickup for the following sessions:

• Dec. 18 (8-9am) - Field Test Campus Coordinator Training (sign up to receive link)
• Jan. 7 (2-3pm) - Field Test Campus Coordinator Training (sign up to receive link)
• Jan. 9 or 12 - TELPAS Campus Coordinator Training
• Jan. 23 & 26 - Work Sessions
• Jan. 30 or Feb. 2 - STAAR Campus Coordinator Training
• March 27 - Work Session

TIP: Search "State Assessments" in Kickup to find these sessions.

The day prior to each session, please confirm time and location in Kickup. If you export the event to your calendar, any changes in Kickup will not be reflected in your calendar.

All STAAR campus coordinators who have students eligible for STAAR Alternate should review training materials, including Key Dates, available here.

All TELPAS campus coordinators should review training materials, including Key Dates, available here.

Resources for upcoming trainings as well as other resources for use during each administration are available and periodically updated.

Be sure you have this site bookmarked.

For all state assessment programs, each student will test on a PfISD managed device. Chromebooks are preferred. Devices used for state assessments should be routinely used in class. No installation is required for Chromebooks, and the Secure Test Browser is accessed as noted on the document linked below.

If additional devices are needed, Windows devices (laptops, desktops) may be used. The campus coordinator is responsible for installing the Secure Test Browser for 2025-2026 on Windows devices. Installation is completed once (according to the instructions below) in the current school year and is effective for all administrations.

✅Each campus coordinator for state assessments is expected to be knowledgeable of all devices, including headphones and headsets, on campus. Routine technology checks throughout the school year are encouraged to ensure all devices are accounted for and in working order.

If you haven't already inventoried headsets and headphones on campus, you should do so right away so you are well-prepared for spring administrations.

Headsets and headphones should be used routinely by students and not stored for test administrations. An accurate inventory is essential.

Campus coordinators for TELPAS and STAAR should work together to ensure these devices are available for spring administrations.

What is your plan to ensure technology is in good working order, updated and ready for test days? Routine technology checks are recommended. Schedule a day for everyone to launch the Secure Test Browser (or something else) in class and establish a reporting system for teachers to document the check. You'll need to have a system to capture any problems and submit "Technology Help" requests if any devices are not functioning properly.

Schedule your campus technology checks at least 4-6 week prior to a test administration to allow time for any repairs or troubleshooting.

Campus coordinators for state assessments should be reading the weekly Principals' Newsletter. Additionally, I will send a weekly email most weeks. Please be sure to schedule time to read each weekly email.

If you need to catch up on my weekly email, find links on the Resources page of our PfISD State Assessments website. You'll find last week's email there if you missed it.

Find the archives of the weekly PfISD Principals' Newsletter at this link. If you're not receiving these, ask your principal to get you added to the mailing list.

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

When logged into Testhound, click "Help" to find more information and links to register or access recordings.

• From "Help", navigate to
• "Register for a Live TestHound Educational Session" or
• Watch a Recorded Testhound Educational Session.

Upcoming Sessions

• Campus TELPAS Testing - January 28, 10-10:30
• Testhound Tune-Ups (live work sessions, bring your questions)
• Mondays, 2:30-3pm
• Thursdays, 9-9:30am

Here are some of my favorite holiday recipes. I need some new cookie recipes. If you have a favorite, please share!