What test was my student given and what areas were tested?
The Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program, authorized through Senate Bill 376 in 1997, requires that all California students in grades 2 through 11 take a single standardized achievement test to measure achievement in basic academic skills. The test selected was the Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition, Form T, published by Harcourt Brace Educational Measurement. In spring 2000, students in grades 2 through 8 were tested in reading, written expression (language), spelling, and mathematics. In grades 9 through 11, students were tested in reading, mathematics, writing (language), science, and history social science. The test was augmented in 2000 with specific questions designed to measure student programs in meeting the new state content standards.

Who must take the STAR tests?
All students in grades 2 through 11 must take the designated STAR tests. Students learning English and students in special education programs are included. Only students whose Individual Education Plans (IEP) specifically exempt them from standardized testing and students with written parent requests to exempt them do not take the STAR tests.

Who chose the test?
The test was selected by the State Board of Education from a group of nationally normed tests that were submitted by test publishers. Test questions were reviewed by a community panel appointed by the Governor, the Legislature, and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. This Statewide Pupil Assessment Review panel ensures that test questions do not ask students to reveal personal or family beliefs.

How do the questions for the STAR augmentation relate to a student's grade level?
In grades 2 through 7 and in grade 11, the questions for the STAR augmentation in reading, writing, and mathematics are tied to what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. In grades 8 through 10, augmented questions for reading and writing are tied to specific grade levels. The augmented questions for mathematics in grades 8 through 10 are not tied to a specific grade level. They are tied to the math course in which a student is enrolled.

What are the math courses for which there is a STAR augmentation?
There are six text options for the augmented math test: algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2, 1st year integrated math, 2nd year integrated math, and 3rd year integrated math.

What if a student in grade 8, 9, or 10 is not enrolled in one of the specified courses?
A student in grade 8, 9, or 10 who is not enrolled in one of the specified courses does not take the star augmentation in mathematics. That student takes the mathematics portion of the Stanford 9, Form T, and will receive results for that part of the STAR test.

If a student in grade 8, 9, or 10 is enrolled in a math class more advanced than his or her grade level, how will the scores for the STAR augmentation be reported?
Students in grade 8, 9, or 10 who take the STAR augmentation above or below the designated grade-level test will receive individual scores. Their scores will not be included in the school scores for their grade level.

Who gives the STAR tests, and how long do they take?
Teachers who receive special training give the STAR tests at the local school. It takes about 7 hours for the Stanford 9 and STAR standards based content assessment. The primary language test in Spanish adds about 4 hours for limited English-proficient students taking the SABE/2.

How were the questions on the tests asked?
All of the test questions are in a multiple-choice format. These questions require students to select the correct answer from four possible answers. Questions on the Stanford 9 and SABE/2 tests have been tried out with thousands of students throughout the United States to see if they are appropriate for the grade level and content being tested. Questions for the STAR augmentation have been tried out on students throughout California.

How and when will parents get their student's test results?
Each student's test results must be reported to parents within 20 working days after the school district receives them. In most cases these reports will be mailed. (Included in this mailing.) Group results by grade level for each school, district, county, and the state will be posted on the Internet no later then July 15, 2000. Results for the Stanford 9 and the augmentation and results for the SABE/2 will be on separate reports.

What else will the report tell me?
This year the scores for the STAR standards based content assessment will be reported as the number of questions the student answered correctly. There will be no comparison to other students. In future years, these scores will indicate levels of student performance such as advanced, proficient, basic, and below basic.

Cautionary Note*: Standards-based scores measure how well students are performing relative to the newly adopted state standards. This year's standards-based scores are not intended to measure how well students have learned what they have been taught because many schools do not yet include many of the state standards in their classroom teaching.

*The State Board of Education directed the publisher to include this cautionary note in the parent report and the district is to include this statement in parent communication.

What is done to help students with special needs?
Reports for students with special needs will include only the number of questions answered correctly if:

• students take the test in Braille, or
• students take a test that is for students more than one grade level below the grade they would be assigned to in a regular program

Reports for students with special needs include all test scores but are designated "non-standard test administration" if:

• students are given extra time to take the test,
• students are given special assistance, or
• students used a revised form

Who will see my student's test results?
Individual student scores will be seen only by teachers, authorized school staff, the student tested, and parents. A brief summary report of results is also included in the student's cumulative record.

How are the STAR test results used?
Teachers, parents, and students use individual STAR results to help monitor each student's academic progress. Individual student results are merged to prepare grade-level reports by subject area for each school, district, county, and the state. The results are used with other information about student achievement to help make decisions about ways to improve student learning and school programs.

Stanford 9 test results for the 1999 administration were used to calculate the 1999 Academic Performance Index (API) for schools throughout California. The API, a major component of the state's new accountability program, is to be used to rank the academic performance of schools, set targets for growth, and monitor progress over time. The Stanford 9 results for 2000 will be used to see how well schools meet their 1999 - 2000 targets.

How should I talk with my student about the STAR test results?
You are encouraged to discuss the STAR test results with your student. Try to keep the discussion at the student's level of understanding. First, discuss the positive results. Then, talk about any lower scores in terms of how the student might do better. Students should recognize that the STAR test is one way to show what they know and can do. They need to understand that classroom assignments, other tests, and grades are also important. Students should be encouraged to read extensively and discuss the reading material with parents, friends, teachers, and others. This will be of great assistance throughout their life.

What should I do if I believe that the test results are lower than expected?
If your individual student's STAR results are lower than expected, you should schedule a meeting with your student's teacher. Together you and the teacher can review the results and identify academic skills that should be stressed at school and reinforced at home. Older students should be involved in the discussion.

How do the STAR test results fit with other information about a student's academic progress?
Results of the STAR tests are one of the ways schools measure student achievement. Tools for monitoring student progress include but are not limited to standardized tests such as the ones used for STAR, district tests, classroom tests and projects, and student grades. Results from the STAR tests can be used to help measure student progress over time and to provide comparisons with other states and the nation.

How can I help the school improve student achievement?
Schools invite parents, guardians, and other community members to become actively involved in improving student learning. Every school has various committees of parents who assist in school decision-making, including the Parent Faculty Association and School Site Council. In addition, individual teachers are frequently in search of volunteers to support classroom instruction. Research studies show that parent and community involvement in the school can improve academic achievement.

How can parents help their students do better on STAR next time?
Prior to testing each year, parents need to talk to their students about the STAR test(s) and encourage them to do their best. Parents or guardians should:

• make sure class assignments and homework are completed throughout the year.
• listen to students read every day - review what they are doing in school.
• ensure that students are in school every day unless they are ill.

Parents can help prepare students for testing day by making sure they have plenty of rest and a good breakfast. Schools have detailed information on ways families can help their students improve in specific academic areas.

What about limited English-proficient students?
In addition to taking the designated STAR tests in English, limited English-proficient Spanish-speaking students who first enrolled in California public schools fewer then 12 months prior to testing must take a primary language test in Spanish. Primary language testing is optional if the students first enrolled more than 12 months prior to testing. The designated test in Spanish for spring 2000 is the Spanish Assessment of Basic Education, Second Edition (SABE/2). This test is published by CTB/McGraw-Hill.

What does the SABE/2 test cover?
The SABE/2 covers reading, language, mathematics, spelling at grades 2 through 11; word analysis at grades 2 and 3; and study skills at grades 4 through 11.

How can I learn more about the STAR test results?
A brief explanation has been included with the home report. No school, district, county, or state level results will be reported using individual student reports. District and State results will be available on the Internet at http://www.cde.ca.gov on July 15th. Schools will hold parent information sessions in the fall.

How can parents get their questions about STAR, their student's results and the API answered?
Parents or guardians should begin with their student's teachers. Additional information may be available through the school's principal or counselor. Questions about the STAR program also can be directed to the STAR test coordinator at the school district office.