The Texas Education Agency has identified the top tier of regions with the highest percentage of LEAs that are currently assessing more than 1% of their student population with STAAR Alternate 2. Although the ESSA requirement is only measured at the state-level, not the LEA-level, the TEA is required to provide guidance to LEAs who are exceeding the 1% threshold. With that in mind, the TEA invites LEA testing and special education leaders to participate in training at Region 6 which will include a process for reviewing alternate assessment data specific to each LEA.
Participants will receive training on five steps LEAs can take to ensure that ARD committees are making assessment decisions that result in the most appropriate assessment for each student. Parent resources will be discussed that support their participation in the decision making process regarding alternate assessments.
The TEA understands that there are many appropriate reasons why an LEA may have more than 1% of their students taking this assessment. The TEA does not limit the number of students who may be assessed with STAAR Alternate 2. The agency would like to encourage collaboration between testing and special education experts to discuss how to analyze data to improve outcomes for students.
Please note that this invitation has been sent to the District Testing Coordinator and Director of Special Education for those LEAS that were contacted by TEA requesting information as part of the 1% alternate assessment waiver.