Statewide Mathematics Assessment Project For Bilingual Students

What is the statewide assessment project for bilingual students?

After field-testing the Spanish versions of the Texas Early Mathematics Inventories - Progress Monitoring (TEMI-PM) and Texas Early Mathematics Inventories - Outcome (TEMI-O), we are preparing for a statewide scale-up assessment project for 2008-2009.

How will training on the assessment measures be conducted?

There will be a CD-ROM sent to each participating teacher that will serve as the assessment trainer. We are planning a follow-up training webcast as well to occur at the end of August. We will inform school liaisons as to the date.

How often will testing be done?

Teachers will be asked to administer the tests three times during the 2008-2009 academic year: in the fall (late September for first- and second-graders; October for kindergarteners), winter (January), and spring (April/May).

How many classes will be tested?

We are looking for a commitment of at least one class each in kindergarten, grade 1, and grade 2. The classrooms will be selected as part of a match between the school’s demographic characteristics and that of the state. In some instances, multiple classrooms within a school will be tested to provide the best demographic match possible.

Can all classrooms in my school be tested?

We will provide materials for classes at each grade level, K–2, as noted above. We will score the tests of the classes in the project. Scores will be provided for each student identified for the project in kindergarten, first, and second grade.

Who will be tested?

All students, including students with disabilities, in intact general education bilingual (Spanish) classrooms will be considered for testing. Permission slips will be provided in English and Spanish, and only students whose parents/guardians provide permission will be selected for testing. Teachers will send out permission slips at the beginning of the school year, and students with signed permissions will be tested all three times (fall, winter, and spring). New transfer students who enroll once testing begins in the fall will not be tested.

If, in the judgment of the teacher, a particular student should not be tested-because of behavioral concerns, temperament, or some other reason-that student would not be tested. In addition, if during testing a child becomes anxious or unwilling to be tested for any reason, testing should cease for that student.

What benefit is the project to my school and students?

Incentives will be provided to the school.
School liaisons will receive a stipend for their efforts.
Scores will be provided for each student identified for the project in one class each in kindergarten, first, and second grade. The school liaison will send the completed tests to the project staff, and the tests will be scored. Each student’s score will then be returned to the principal, including a percentile rank based on the student’s comparison to his or her classmates.
Participants will be listed in the acknowledgements section in the final version of the Administration Manual.

What are the school’s responsibilities?

The project seeks a yearlong commitment to the following:

Have classroom teachers administer the tests three times over the course of the year. To conduct testing effectively, these teachers will need to read the administration manual, view and study the training CD (about an hour in length), and practice reading the test instructions several times.
Identify one classroom each in kindergarten, grade 1, and grade 2 for assessment purposes. Schools can select multiple classrooms, but project funds will not be available for testing additional classrooms. However, schools are permitted to make unlimited copies of the test for internal assessment and self-score the tests using the answer keys we provide.
Identify a school liaison to receive and return to us assessment materials three times a year (at our expense).
Distribute and collect permission slips, which we will provide in English and Spanish.
Obtain superintendent approval (we will provide a form).
Provide student demographic information (i.e., gender, ethnicity, free/reduced lunch, LEP status).
Receive periodic updates from project staff members.

Are there any requirements on the selection of the liaison?

The liaison would need to be able to manage the permission forms from parents as well as receive and return the tests from/to UT (at no cost) three times a year. There will be a training CD-ROM sent that will need to be given to each participating teacher who will administer the assessments to students. And, of course, it would be helpful if the liaison has a good working relationship with the classroom teachers.

If we sign up, can we change our minds and not participate?

We are looking for a yearlong commitment. Because we have to match the demographics of the state, if a school signs up and then withdraws, that will affect the demographic balance we need. So we ask that once a school enrolls in the scale-up, it remains in the scale-up. We do understand, however, that certain unforeseen situations may arise.

What if we have questions now about the project? To whom should they be addressed?

We encourage your questions. We will post and respond to additional questions. Please contact Dr. Minyi Shih. Be sure that your e-mail system will recognize this e-mail address (we have had problems with correspondence being routed to “junk” mailboxes).

Where do I register?

To register, please fill out our online registration form. Registering for the project indicates a commitment to participate as described above. Schools that participated in the Assessment Scale-up project will be given first priority, but any school can apply. All applicants will be notified of the participant selection via e-mail.