STAAR Testing Information for ALL students and families

Knights,

We have our first two days of STAAR testing next week.  We hope this information will help you and your student plan for this time.   The campus will be closed all day to visitors because we will have active testing throughout the day, so please plan accordingly

Testing Schedule

Tuesday, March 28: All 7^th grade students will take STAAR Writing and all 8^th grade students will take STAAR Reading.  All 6^th grade students will be placed in testing room for district assessments.  6^th and 8^th grade students will eat in the cafeteria while 7^th grade will have lunch in their testing room (they will break from testing).  In the afternoon, all students will meet with periods 1, 2, and 3 (off campus PE students for 1^st period will report to the front office).

Wednesday, March 29: The STAAR Math 8 will be administered to all 6^th or 7^th grade students in Pre-AP Math and all 8^th grade students in Intro to Algebra.  All 8^th grade students in Algebra will be in a review session for the Algebra STAAR EOC (to be given in May).  All non-testing 6^th and 7^th graders will follow their normal schedule.  Please note that some classes will be occurring in another location.

In the afternoon, all students will meet with periods 7, 6, and 5.

Testing Rules and Environment

Testing days are like no other at school.  To comply with state and local policies, we must maintain a secure testing environment at all times.  To help you understand the requirements, here are some general rules:

·      The school is considered in a "testing environment" until all tests have been collected and teachers have been instructed to release the students.  Test security procedures are in place this entire time and do not end when a student and/or room has completed testing.

·      Students may not have cell phones in their possession when we are in a testing environment, this is a TEA requirement.  Students may leave them at home, in their locker, or with their teacher.  Violations to this policy may result in their test being invalidated as well as being subject to school discipline.

·      Students will not be released early from the testing room until the end of the four hour testing window; we want all students to have adequate time to pace themselves and not feel rushed.  Students leaving early cause disruptions to other students so please refrain from picking up your student early.  Students may read a book or sleep after the test.  Students may not complete homework, read a textbook, read an electronic book, or listen to music.

·      Students may not have head coverings while in the testing room but they should be prepared to dress in layers for the utmost comfort during testing.

·      Students may not talk with other students while we are testing.

·      Students must complete their test in four hours or less; bathroom and snack breaks are included in the four hours.

·      Visitors are not allowed in secure testing areas, including hallways or other areas where students who are testing may be located.  Therefore, no visitors will be admitted past the office.

Snack and Water procedures 

We will allow students to bring a snack for the STAAR testing days; it is critical that parents and students know that eating a snack during the testing does not "stop the clock"; this means they will still only have four hours to complete their test.

All snacks or water MUST adhere to these guidelines or students will not be allowed to access their snack until after the completion of all testing.

·      All items must collectively fit into a sandwich-sized clear ziplock bag.  Students may write their name on the bag but no other writing can be on the bag.

·      Snacks are limited to goldfish (original) and pretzels.  These limitations are set to reduce smudges on testing documents that may interfere with scoring as well as minimize risks of allergy complications for other students in the room.

·      Water must be in a clear bottle, like bottles purchased from the store.  Reusable water bottles or containers will not be allowed.  
·      Students may bring mints, but not gum.

·      Snacks MAY NOT be placed in pockets or other bags/purses.  Snacks must be visible to testing monitors at all times.  Depending in the room configuration, students may be directed to place their snack with the teacher and not at their desk.

·      If a student becomes a distraction with their snacks or water, that student will not be allowed to access the remainder of their snacks/water until after the completion of all testing.

Lunches
The cafeteria will be providing sack lunches in lieu of hot lunches.  Students will declare Monday morning whether they intend to bring a lunch or purchase a hot lunch.  Please note that students eating in a classroom will not have access to a microwave.

·      6^th graders will eat lunches in the cafeteria both days.

·      7^th graders will eat in their testing rooms both days (Tuesday will be a break during testing so lunch must be silent but Wednesday it will be at the conclusion of testing)

·      8^th graders will eat in the cafeteria on Tuesday and in their classrooms on Wednesday.