RUNNING HEAD: PLANNING A SCHOOL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

The Middle School Assessment Program

Ms. Crystal L. Robinson

The Middle School Assessment Program

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The Middle School Assessment Program

Goals and Purposes of the Assessment Program/Plan

The aims and purposes of The Middle School Assessment Program are to obtain various types of data for collection to determine
changes in the middle school academic programs on the foundation of the collected data. The program utilizes Stanford Achievement
Test (national achievement standards), STAAR (state achievement standards), STAAR A (learning disabilities), STAAR Alternate 2
(severe cognitive disabilities), STAAR L (English language learners), TELPAS (limited English proficiency), district benchmarks
(district achievement standards), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (learning disabilities), Responsiveness to Intervention
(specific learning disability), Individualized Education Program (specific learning disability), Screening Assessment for Gifted
Elementary and Middle School Students (GT), MSTAR (algebra readiness), ReadiStep (high school readiness), and Bridges Career
Assessments (career development). The objective of The Middle School Assessment Program is to improve academic programs and
student learning. The Middle School Assessment Program informs the faculty and other decision makers of the contributions and
impact of the program. The Middle School Program validates to students, faculty, staff, parents and stakeholders what the program is
achieving. The Middle School Assessment Program provides maintenance for campus decision-making of program evaluation and
strategic planning (Drummond & Jones, 2010).
Types of Information Needed to Make Decisions
The Middle School Assessment Program gathers information by selecting, administering, scoring, and interpreting accurate
assessments to make decisions. The types of information needed to make a decision are each students cognitive and achievement

The Middle School Assessment Program

levels, interests, abilities, and talents. The Counseling Department performs needs assessment for The Comprehensive School
Counseling Program that aligns with The Middle School Assessment Program. The Counseling Department identifies students with
learning disabilities and qualifiers for the gifted and talented programs as well as high career program placement. The information
from assessments is used to improve, inform, validate, and maintain the victory of both The Middle School Assessment Program and
The Comprehensive School Counseling Program. The Counseling Department uses the data from carefully selected assessments to
determine each students schedule and placement of targeted academic programs and (Drummond & Jones, 2010).
Types of Instruments and Procedures for Selecting Them
The types of assessment tools for The Middle School Assessment Program are achievement tests, intellectual ability tests, readiness
tests, and career assessments. The procedure of selecting each assessment is to ensure all assessments are compatible with national,
state, and district educational achievement standards. Every assessment utilized by The Middle School Assessment Program aligns
with all required standards already established for educational compliance (Drummond & Jones, 2010). Each assessment has
completed thorough research and proven effective.
Achievement Tests

Stanford Achievement Test measures national achievement standards in reading, math, science, and language. Data identifies
student strengths and needs, leading to effective placement and instructional planning (Pearson Education, 2015).

STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) is a Texas annual achievement assessment for reading, writing,
science, and social studies. Students must meet proficiency levels for grade promotion (Texas Education Agency, 2015).

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STAAR A (Accommodated) is a special education accommodated version of the original STAAR. Identified students receiving
services for dyslexia and other learning disorders participate in STAAR A. Students can use visual aids for STAAR A only
(Texas Education Agency, 2015).

STAAR Alternate 2 is a special education test for students with medical, cognitive disabilities receiving special education
services. The test meets federal requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (Texas Education Agency,
2015).

STAAR L (Linguistic) is for English language learners. The test is accommodated linguistically for English language learners
(Texas Education Agency, 2015).

TELPAS (Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System) is for students with limited English proficiency to
determine their advancements in the areas of listening, speaking, and writing (Texas Education Agency, 2015).

District Benchmark Assessments are tests in math, science; English, social studies, reading and writing used measure student
performance on the STAAR. Students are assessed every nine weeks to provide various types of information throughout the
school year for interventions and instruction planning (Austin Independent School District, 2011).

Intellectual Abilities Tests

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children assesses learning disabilities through intelligence testing. Information, Word
Reasoning, Picture Completion, Arithmetic, and Cancellation are tested domains that represent student's abilities (Pearson
Education, 2015).

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Responsiveness to Intervention (RTI) targets a specific learning disability. RTI is a three tier approach to screening students at
risk while giving them rigorous instruction, monitoring the achievement level of interventions, and assessing for special
education services to determine students eligibility for a (SLD) specific learning disability (Drummond & Jones, 2010).

Individualized Education Program (IEP) is an educational plan to address special education students unique learning issues
and include specific educational goals. The IEP is a legally binding document created by the Admission, Review, and Dismissal
Committee (ARDC). The school must provide everything it promises in the IEP (Drummond & Jones, 2010).

Screening Assessment for Gifted Elementary and Middle School Students is an intellectual gifted and talented test that
measures cognitive, academic, creative/critical thinking, and visual/performing art abilities (Drummond & Jones, 2010).

Readiness Tests

MSTAR (Middle School Students in Texas Algebra Ready) is a universal screener to assess algebra readiness skills of students
in need of math assistance and support educational decisions and instructional planning (Texas Education Agency, 2013).

ReadiStep is a high school readiness test that measures the skills students are required to have for a successful transition to
high school from middle school. The test also provides feedback for teachers to make educational decisions in regards to
instructional planning (The College Board, 2015).

Career Assessment Instruments

The Middle School Assessment Program

Bridges Career Assessments determine career development. Bridges Career Assessments give information of students skills,
interests and vocational abilities for placement in high school career program of study. Students will graduate from their high
school career program with an industry-respected certification (XAP Corporation, 2015).

Responsibilities of the Staff

Staff plays a major role to ensure all assessments are performed accurately for the truest result. The Campus Testing Coordinator
provides protocol for policies and procedures for each assessment as well as assigned duties for each assessment. Each assessment has
an instruction manual on how to implement each assessment accordingly. All staff members must attend training sessions to
administer assessments. Some trainings are online. Each assessment requires the test administrator to obtain certifications.
Assessments are monitored and secured for confidentiality. The test administrator must ensure each students test is compatible with
his or her IEP with the appropriate accommodation. Test administrators avoid irregularities by paying close attention to all test
booklets, answer documents, and students the during test taking. It is the responsibility of all staff to follow all instructions accurately
as described by the assessment manual and the Campus Testing Coordinator. The Campus Testing Coordinator will collect all
completed assessments and ship for scoring (Texas Education Agency, 2014).
Procedures for Disseminating Assessment Results
Assessments are sent to a testing company for scoring. There, students assessments are analyzed and interpreted. The Counseling
Department shares results to students and parents. The testing company provides easy to read assessment feedback for students,
parents, teachers and school administrators. Assessment reports are in a user-friendly English Spanish format. These reports are

The Middle School Assessment Program

shared with professionals that provide services to the student. The Counseling Department host several feedback sessions for parents
and students to share assessment results. Parents can talk one on one with their childs counselor to understand how the assessment
results will impact the childs achievement. Follow up sessions are appointed if needed to discuss counselors recommendations
further. The Counseling Department is available to encourage and motivate students and parents. Counselors are open to sharing
coping tips and techniques on dealing with unfavorable assessment results with students. The school district is responsible for sharing
all assessment data to national, federal, and state offices (Drummond & Jones, 2010).
Evaluation Strategy
The Middle School Assessment Program participates in ongoing evaluations. Environmental assessment measures the surroundings
and experiences of the school. The environmental assessment measures physical space, organizations and supervision of space,
materials, peer environment, organization and scheduling, safety, and responsiveness. All components are necessary for an adequate
learning setting. The Classroom Environment Scale (CES) assesses what staff and students think of the learning environment.
The Classroom Environment Scale helps to create a positive school climate that most of the students will be successful. Course
content, teaching methods, teacher personality, class composition and characteristics of the overall classroom environment are
measured in the assessment. Both assessments are part of the evaluation strategy of The Middle School Assessment program to
improve, inform, validate, and maintain the longevity of success of students (Drummond & Jones, 2010).

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References

Austin Independent School District. (2011). Benchmark assessments | Austin ISD. Retrieved from
http://www.austinisd.org/accountability/benchmark-assessments
Drummond, R. J., & Jones, K. D. (2010). Assessment procedures for counselors and helping professionals (7th ed.). Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall.
Pearson Education. (2015). Stanford achievement test series, tenth edition. Retrieved from
http://www.pearsonassessments.com/learningassessments/products/100000415/stanford-achievement-test-series-tenthedition.html
Pearson Education. (2015). Wechsler intelligence scale for children - Fourth edition. Retrieved from
http://www.pearsonclinical.com/psychology/products/100000310/wechsler-intelligence-scale-for-children-fourth-editionwisc-iv.html
Texas Education Agency. (2013). Assessment - ESTAR/MSTAR screener. Retrieved from
http://www.txar.org/assessment/mstar_screener.htm
Texas Education Agency. (2014). STAAR grade 6-8 2014 test administrator manual. Retrieved from
http://file:///C:/Users/Crystal/Downloads/STAAR-g06-08-TAmanual_2014.pdf
Texas Education Agency. (2015). STAAR A resources. Retrieved from http://tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/STAARA
Texas Education Agency. (2015). STAAR L resources. Retrieved from http://tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/ell/staarl/

The Middle School Assessment Program

Texas Education Agency. (2015). STAAR alternate 2 resources. Retrieved from http://tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/specialed/staaralt/
Texas Education Agency. (2015). STAAR resources. Retrieved from http://tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/staar/#S_General
Texas Education Agency. (2015). TELPAS resources. Retrieved from http://tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/ell/telpas/
The College Board. (2015). ReadiStep - Assessment measuring students skills and needs for college success |College board |.
Retrieved from https://readistep.collegeboard.org/
XAP Corporation. (2015). XAP Corporation: Products & Services. Retrieved from http://www.xap.com/products-services/default.asp