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Thanks, Indigo. But I do need something that goes beyond advertising the test to describe how their "adaptive" model works, and what the data output given to parents actually means. It is oddly presented and not very informative...
You'll have to dig a bit, but I'll summarize some of the relevant highlights:
STAR is computer-adaptive multiple-choice testing intended for use for screening, diagnostic, or progress monitoring functions. Only 24 or 25 items are administered to each child in each subject. Item selection changes from item to item based on performance on the previous items. In reading, in grades 3-12, there are 20 short comprehension questions, and 5 extended comprehension questions, both cloze tasks. In math, there are 8 each of numeration, computation, and problem solving. Each test takes about 10-15 minutes to administer.
The parent report is quite sketchy, including only the SS, which you would need the developmental chart to interpret, the grade equivalent (of which anathema I think I need not say more than I have in the past!), the grade-based percentile and range, and the normal curve equivalent (another representation of rank order in the norm population). p. 38-41 of the above document include some interpretive information; the paragraphs on the scaled score are probably the most useful.
The big picture thought to keep in mind is that the instrument is intended for screening and progress monitoring, with an eye to identifying and monitoring at-risk students, not in-depth assessment.
Last edited by aeh; 09/19/1404:55 PM. Reason: update page numbers
...pronounced like the long vowel and first letter of the alphabet...
Yes, these documents are found on the website ... as mentioned, a bit of digging may be required to find the information a parent may be most interested in.
Can you figure out if the 1-5 grade tests cross over into grade 6+ content? DS is a 4th grader taking 6th grade math. He reported answering several questions of fractions and decimals and "not much interesting." He says he saw nothing he hasn't seen in class. He's inconsistent with test taking skills, however, and very easily could have messed up several questions.
I think the lower grade test must extend to the higher levels because my daughter scored in the 7th grade level in fourth grade. We never received standard scores, only grade equivalents (unfortunately). I'm feeling frustrated with the STAR test right now because my daughter somehow dropped over four grade levels in reading over the summer, leaving her at 8.5, and the school accordingly dropped her work level four grades - based on a 24 question test, if I understand correctly, when she scored higher at the beginning of last year.
aeh, if there is a cap of +3, does that mean that my daughter must be reaching the cap? She is not a mathy kid, so I wouldn't expect a higher score, but it is useful to know the capabilities of the test.
apm, from what I've read in the technical manual, it appears there is a three grade cap in math, based on the start point you're assigned at the beginning (set by the teacher, and presumably based on your nominal grade level in the subject). So, yes, if your daughter's beginning point on the test was fourth grade, seventh grade would be at the ceiling of the test. OTOH, if the school chose to set her starting point higher, the ceiling would be accordingly higher. It's not the test per se that has a ceiling of three grades, but in any given item set, the computer adaptive item selection will not exceed +3 grades.
On the reading levels, I presume you have already had the conversation about the low likelihood of actually losing four grade levels of reading skill, in the absence of brain trauma? Are they willing to let her re-take it? The tricky thing about these CATs is that if you get the first couple of items wrong, you won't be able to work your way back up to your true level before you run out of items.
...pronounced like the long vowel and first letter of the alphabet...
