Training on ling_accomm_for_staar_program_spring_2015

Editor's Notes

• #9: Table showing allowable linguistic accommodations for students taking STAAR assessments
• #10: Table showing allowable linguistic accommodations for students taking a STAAR L assessments
• #12: Reminder: Allowed for grade 6 and up reading and writing as part of STAAR dictionary policy (and not considered a linguistic accommodation)
• #13: Reminder: Allowed for grade 6 and up reading and writing as part of STAAR dictionary policy (and not considered a linguistic accommodation)
• #19: Note: When clarifying the meaning of words, test administrators may reference a dictionary and are not required to give definitions or explanations from memory.
• #20: The test administrator may clarify the meaning of words and phrases on the prompt page at the request of the student. In this example, the student may ask about the word “championships” in the stimulus. The test administrator might explain that a championship is “a final game between the best teams.” If the student asks about the phrase “accomplish good things by yourself,” the test administrator might explain that this means “to do good things without the help of other people.” The test administrator may also help the student understand the bulleted information on the page if the student requests help with the meaning of specific words and phrases. The test administrator may NOT assist in any way with planning, organizing, or writing the composition. In addition, reinforcing or emphasizing information on the prompt page, such as reminding the student to check spelling and punctuation, is NOT permitted.
• #21: Note: When clarifying the meaning of words, test administrators may reference a dictionary and are not required to give definitions or explanations from memory.
• #22: In this example, a student might ask about the meaning of the word “enhance.” If after looking the word up in the dictionary the student still needs assistance, the test administrator may explain that it means “improve” or “make something better.” The test administrator is NOT permitted to assist with the meaning of the selection title “Anne of Green Gables” or with the language arts terms “stage directions” and “scene.” Clarification may be provided only for requested words/phrases that are not language arts terms, not part of the selection title, and not quoted verbatim from the selection. The test administrator is not permitted to reinforce or emphasize any part of information or assist with planning, organizing, or writing of response.
• #29: Reminder: For grade 3 mathematics, standard test administration procedure allows all grade 3 students to receive reading (decoding) assistance on this assessment.
• #30: Note: When clarifying the meaning of words, test administrators may reference a dictionary and are not required to give definitions or explanations from memory.
• #33: In this example, the student may request that the test administrator read aloud “judicial” in the cartoon. The test administrator is permitted to read aloud any word in the question, answer choices, or stimulus at the request of a student. The test administrator is NOT permitted to assist the student in any way in understanding or interpreting the stimulus or in finding the correct answer to an item. In addition, unless the student is also eligible for clarification and the test administrator is using an ECG, the test administrator must not provide help to clarify the meaning of any words requested by the student. If the student is using a bilingual dictionary, the test administrator may suggest that the student use it to look up the meaning of the word “judicial.”
• #34: When reading aloud text requested by a student, the test administrator must keep voice inflection neutral at all times. The test administrator may read aloud numbers, symbols, and abbreviations within phrases or sentences read aloud as long as doing so does not invalidate what the item is assessing. In this example, if the student requests that the phrase “improper fraction is equivalent to 3 7/8” be read aloud, the test administrator should say “improper fraction is equivalent to” and then read the fraction as “three and seven eighths.” Note, however, that in an item that is specifically assessing the ability of the student to express or write a number in words, the test administrator would not be permitted to read the number aloud. Doing so would invalidate what the item is assessing. If a student requests only that a number (not a number embedded in text) be read aloud, the test administrator should respond, “I cannot help you with that; just do the best you can.” The reading aloud of numbers, symbols, and abbreviations is allowed when embedded in text so as not to artificially interrupt the flow and impede comprehension of the phrase or sentence read aloud. The point, though, is not to provide assistance in reading or comprehending numbers, symbols, abbreviations themselves.
• #35: In this example, a student might ask for assistance with the words “bottled water.” The test administrator may draw a picture of a bottle of water to convey its meaning. In clarifying a word’s meaning, the test administrator should not draw or write in the student’s test booklet. If necessary, the test administrator may write or draw on a separate sheet of paper, which should be destroyed immediately after the test session. The word “brand” is another word an ELL may not know in English. If a student requests help with the meaning of this word, the test administrator might explain what “brand” means by giving a simple definition or some examples of common brand names of bottled water. Remember, the test administrator may assist a student by clarifying the meaning of any requested words in the test item that are not in the Words Not Eligible for Clarification list in the ECG. If reading aloud words is also an approved accommodation and the student asks for help with the word “ounce,” the test administrator may pronounce the word. If the student still does not understand, the test administrator might say that it is a unit of volume and point to the word “ounces” in the student’s STAAR Grade 8 Mathematics Reference Materials.
• #37: Table showing allowable linguistic accommodations for STAAR A
• #39: Reminder: Allowed for grade 6 and up reading and writing as part of STAAR dictionary policy (and not considered a linguistic accommodation)
• #40: Reminder: Allowed for grade 6 and up reading and writing as part of STAAR dictionary policy (and not considered a linguistic accommodation)
• #47: Note: When clarifying the meaning of words, test administrators may reference a dictionary and are not required to give definitions or explanations from memory.
• #49: In this example, a student might request clarification of the meaning of the word “surface.” If after looking the word up in the bilingual dictionary the student still needs assistance, the test administrator may explain that it means “the top part or layer.” The student might also ask for assistance with “toward.” The test administrator may explain that it means “in the direction of.” Test administrators are permitted to clarify the meaning of requested words in the question, answer choices, and any stimuli (e.g., graph, map, chart, etc.). Test administrators are NOT allowed to provide any assistance in understanding or interpreting the stimulus provide any assistance that would aid the student in finding the correct answer define, explain, or illustrate content terminology or concepts assessed
• #50: In this example, a student might request clarification of the meaning of the word “publication.” If after looking the word up in the bilingual dictionary the student still needs assistance, the test administrator may explain that it means “printing and making available to the public.” The student might also ask for assistance with “inspection” in answer choice B. The test administrator may explain that it means “looking at something carefully to find problems.” Test administrators are permitted to clarify the meaning of requested words in the question, answer choices, and any stimuli (e.g., graph, map, chart, etc.). Test administrators are NOT allowed to provide any assistance in understanding or interpreting the stimulus provide any assistance that would aid the student in finding the correct answer define, explain, or illustrate content terminology or concepts assessed
• #52: Note: When clarifying the meaning of words, test administrators may reference a dictionary and are not required to give definitions or explanations from memory.
• #53: In this example, a student might ask about the meaning of the word “spearheading.” The test administrator may explain that it means “leading” or “in charge of.” Clarification may be provided only for requested words/phrases that are not providing assistance that aid the student in determining correct answers to test questions not clarifying the meaning of vocabulary, expressions, or other phrasing specifically assessed in a test question not clarifying meaning in a way that provides cues related to spelling, mechanics, or grammar The test administrator is not permitted to comment on misspelling when clarifying meaning.
• #54: Note: When clarifying the meaning of words, test administrators may reference a dictionary and are not required to give definitions or explanations from memory.
• #55: The test administrator may clarify the meaning of words and phrases on the prompt page at the request of the student. In this example, the student may ask about the word “memorable” in the stimulus. The test administrator might explain that memorable means “something so interesting or exciting that you will not forget.” The test administrator may NOT assist in any way with planning, organizing, or writing the composition. In addition, reinforcing or emphasizing information on the prompt page, such as reminding the student to check spelling and punctuation, is NOT permitted.
• #57: Note: When clarifying the meaning of words, test administrators may reference a dictionary and are not required to give definitions or explanations from memory.
• #58: In this example, a student might ask about the meaning of the word “convey.” If after looking the word up in the dictionary the student still needs assistance, the test administrator may explain that it means “make the reader understand.” The test administrator is NOT permitted to assist with the meaning of the selection titles “Sunday Morning Early” and “I Wish I Was a Poet” or with the language arts term “narrator.” Clarification may be provided only for requested words/phrases that are not language arts terms, not part of the selection title, and not quoted verbatim from the selection. The test administrator is not permitted to reinforce or emphasize any part of information or assist with planning, organizing, or writing of response.
• #59: Reminder: For grade 3 mathematics, standard test administration procedure allows all grade 3 students to receive reading (decoding) assistance on this assessment.