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A Microsoft Word version of this letter is available for download
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INFORMATION ONLY September 2, 2009 TO THE SUPERINTENDENT ADDRESSED: SUBJECT: 2009–2010 Field Testing and Related Activities for the Texas Assessment Program The purpose of this letter is notification by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) of field testing and related assessment activities for the 2009–2010 school year. Legislation passed in June 2009 mandated a number of changes to the state assessment program, several of which require districts to participate in field-testing activities and related studies. In July 2009, districts were notified of their participation in one of these studies, the Mathematics End-of-Course Assessments study. In an effort to coordinate sampling for the other activities outlined in this correspondence, notification to districts will be delayed this year. Districts and campuses will be notified of their specific participation in late September 2009. TEA has made a concerted effort over the past several years to collaborate with Texas educators in reviewing all aspects of statewide field testing with the goal of minimizing disruptions to districts’ calendars and reducing the amount of instructional time used for testing purposes. TEA’s intention throughout this process continues to be maintaining the highest quality assessments possible while minimizing the impact on students and districts. Several significant changes in the state assessment program will be implemented in the 2011–2012 school year, including replacing the current Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) with new grade/subject-specific assessments at grades 3–8 and replacing the high school TAKS tests with 12 end-of-course (EOC) assessments. Transitioning to these new assessments will make it necessary to conduct more stand-alone field testing than has occurred in recent years since the items for these new assessments cannot be embedded into the current TAKS assessments. In addition, standards must be set on all of the new assessments. Given the high-stakes nature of the EOC assessments, program standards are scheduled to be set on all 12 of the assessments before the first mandatory administrations for graduation purposes in the 2011–2012 school year. Just as field testing was required in 2002 when the TAKS program was being developed, field testing is required in 2010 and 2011 to develop the new EOC and grades 3–8 assessments. Field testing is a critical part of validating the technical adequacy of large-scale assessments to help ensure that they are fair and reliable measures of student achievement. TEA is coordinating sampling and planning across all scheduled assessment activities, including field tests, mandatory EOC testing, and standard-setting studies to minimize the burden at the local level to the extent possible. TEA recognizes the challenges districts and campuses face with regard to time and resources when they are asked to participate in stand-alone field tests and studies. However, the increased testing activities that will be necessary in 2010 and 2011 will provide several major benefits for students and school districts.
The increase in field testing for implementing these new assessments is temporary. The agency plans to use embedded field testing in all EOC assessments and expects to eliminate the need for stand-alone field testing for the new grades 3–8 assessments after spring 2011. Below is a summary chart of field testing and assessment development activities that will take place over the next two years. Please note that the information for the 2009–2010 school year is final, but the information for the 2010–2011 school year is preliminary and subject to change as assessment plans continue to be developed and finalized. Additional information regarding the 2009–2010 school year activities is provided in an attachment to this correspondence. Mandatory Field Testing and Additional Assessment Activities
We anticipate districts will continue to support these important activities through their participation in field testing and auditing activities as they have done in the past. The agency will evaluate districts’ participation and implement indicator(s) within the Performance-Based Monitoring Student Assessment Data Validation System only as necessary to enable to agency to maintain valid and reliable assessments of student performance. If you have questions about the selection process for any of the activities outlined in the attachment or need additional information about the 2009–2010 assessment activities, please call the Student Assessment Division. Assessment Contact Information
cc: District Testing Coordinator  |
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