STAR & PFT Assessment Training
Note: This information will give you a strong background and overview of the STAR, Writing, EAP, and PFT Tests prior to their administration. Please note this info will not replace the training you will be receiving from your Site Coordinator the day of your proctoring assignment. Specific ES To Do’s are in blue below.
CDE Purpose of the STAR Program
According to CDE the following three reasons are given for administering the STAR test: first, provide standardized testing and test reports for all students, schools, districts, and counties; second, provide schools and districts information that can be used with other achievement data to make decisions about improving instructional programs; and last, provide information to community members and government officials about the effectiveness of California’s education system.
Need to Know Proctor Tips
If you go to our school website at http://www.ieminc.org/Assessment/Nutshellstar06.htm, you will be able to read the brief overview of the STAR test. Our STAR testing schedule, Writing Assessment Site, Student Behavior Policy, Testing Tips, STAR Training for ES Proctors and Parent Volunteers.
Blueprint info for CST Portion of STAR
The Blueprint info for the CST portion of the STAR test is at the following website: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/blueprints.asp. This resource would be helpful so your parents know what areas are covered for each subject. If you select Blueprints Preface under English-Language Arts and Blueprints Preface under Mathematics, you will see specific information on the CST portion of the STAR. There is also Blueprints Preface for History-Social Science, Science, as well as, the other more specific tests.
Sample CST Test Questions
Information for 2003-2008 CST Released Test Questions for each subject and grade level is broken down if you go to this website at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/css05rtq.asp. This may be information that your parents would be interested in to help give them an idea of different California Standards on each of the different tests. The CST page at http://www.startest.org/cst.html : DFAs (except for DFAs for the CSTs for grades 2, 3, 7, and Writing), sample answer documents, and sample test question transparency forms have been posted.
Writing Test for Fourth and Seventh Graders
Information for the Writing test for the fourth and seventh graders can be found on the following website: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/resources.asp. Here you can find info about what is expected for both the fourth and the seventh grade writing test along with the writing rubric for the tests. There is also a packet that the state put together for the parents or guardians to help answer some of their questions. You will be able to view your 4th or 7th grade student’s STAR Writing test site assignment under Student Detail/Testing Assessment button, STAR tab, under new box STAR Writing(4th & 7th only) no later than Wednesday, February 21st.
Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
If you go to http://www.ieminc.org/Assessment/2005/pftfaq05.htm, you will be able to view the PFT basic information. Our school tries to administer the PFT (Physical Fitness Test) during the STAR test administration days as the Test site Coordinator works with students while they are taking a break from the STAR testing. In the event that the testing site does not allow for the PFT to be administered there, the ES will administer the test on a different day. The materials and testing instruction packets will be housed with the AF. Please make arrangements with the AF to check out the materials and packets. The CDE website has the following: 2006-07 Overview Packet as a link that gives more details about the PFT test. It is helpful to look at this document briefly to understand it more thoroughly. Complete the PFT info in Student Detail/Testing Assessment button, PFT tab after you go over STAR Parent Letter with your families.
General Assessment and EAP Info
The following link: http://www.ieminc.org/Assessment/indexsm.htm contains our Assessments by Grade Level Chart, 2007 Assessment Dates Calendar, the ES Proctor Duty Calendar (be sure to take a look at our current duty schedule to be sure you have accurate info of your assignments), and information on EAP (Early Assessment of Readiness for College Program) info.
The STAR Time Chart
The STAR Time Chart is at the following link: http://www.ieminc.org/Assessment/index.htm#STAR. This chart gives you a reasonable idea how long each subtest is scheduled listing each of the
subtests for each grade level. This is also a useful piece of information to pass on to your families before they take the test to help dispel any apprehensions they might have about how long their child’s test actually is.