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Administering the STAR Assessments

Testing Window 1: August 21 – September 8

____ 1. Prepare to administer the assessments with fidelity

a. Reread the Pretest Instructions for each assessment (attached to the email and available
on the Renaissance website)

____ 2. Add new students

a. If new students have enrolled in your school, add their information to SchoolSpeak at
least 1 day before testing for their class begins.
b. You can view login details in Renaissance for all students by clicking Personnel, Students
and Parents > View Students, searching for students and clicking the Passwords
tab. You can use the View PDF or Print Page link to get a hard copy of the results.

____ 3. Develop a testing schedule during the testing window

a. On average, it takes students about 20-30 minutes to complete each assessment.
However, it is possible for students to take longer. We recommend scheduling at least an
hour per grade to accommodate all students or any delays that may occur.
b. Renaissance does not recommend for students to complete the STAR Reading and STAR
Math assessments on the same day.
c. All students in grades TK-3 should take STAR Early Literacy during the first window.
i. This assessment covers early literacy skills that are typically acquired between
ages 3 and 9.
ii. Older students may also take this assessment if you are concerned that they
may have gaps in early literacy skills.
d. All students in grades 2-8 should take STAR Reading and STAR Math.
i. Students in grades K-1 may also attempt to take STAR Reading and STAR Math if
they have at least 100 sight words.
e. When developing a testing schedule, ensure that time is also designated for students
who are absent on their assigned testing day.

____ 4. Inform teachers of the Monitor password

a. Note: The default STAR monitor password is “admin”
b. The Monitor password is used to verify the correct student is logged on. It is also
required to stop or resume a test. The Monitor password should not be given out to
students.
c. You can change the Monitor password by going to any STAR product > Preferences >
Under Classroom Preferences, click on “Edit” > Enter in the new monitor password >
Click “Save” when done.

____ 5. Ensure that the hardware is ready for the assessments

a. Check that the correct website is bookmarked on the devices (archla.org/star)
b. Check battery life on the devices
c. Ensure that headphones are available for STAR Early Literacy

Archdiocese of Los Angeles STAR Assessments

Department of Catholic Schools August 2017
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____ 6. Prepare students for the assessments

a. Explain the purpose of the STAR Assessments
b. Explain what to expect, including key concepts such as computer adaptive testing, time
allowed per question, # of questions, etc. (refer to the Pretest Instructions)
i. Additional Recommendations:
1. Explain how the level of the test works
a. If a student has taken the assessment before, the first
question will be on the level that he/she left off last time.
b. If a student has not taken the assessment before, the first
question with be an easy question for his/her grade level.
2. Experience the time limits
a. Sit quietly for 90 seconds (Reading)
b. Sit quietly for 3 minutes (Math)
3. Review the sample problems (available in the Pretest Instructions)
4. Foster a growth mindset (celebrate growth; emphasize that the
assessment is intended to be formative not evaluative)
c. Allow students to practice logging in before the day of the assessments
d. Allow students to practice using the device (i.e., keyboard, mouse, or touch screen)
e. Read the pretest instructions to the students on the day of the assessment.

Additional Recommendations for Administering the STAR Assessments

 Create a folder for each teacher with the following information:
o Pretest Instructions
o Monitor password
o Student usernames and passwords
 Create individual login slips for each student.
 When students log in, double check that the correct name appears on the screen.
 If possible, have extra staff available to help facilitate login, particularly in the primary grades.
 Have paper and pencil available for the STAR Math assessment
 Prepare additional classwork for early finishers (such as reading a book). Do not choose an
activity that would cause students to rush through the assessment (such as playing on the
device).
 Ensure that the testing environment is quiet and free from distractions (consider using testing
dividers).
 Remind teachers that they should not assist students with reading, paraphrasing, or answering
the questions.
 If necessary, it is possible to pause or stop the assessment by using the Monitor password.
 If the system shuts down or the window goes blank, DO NOT PANIC. Just reset the system and
re-enter the Monitor password. The window will reopen at the place where the student left off.

If you need assistance during the assessment administration, please contact Renaissance Support at
(800) 338-4204 or use their Live Chat available through your Renaissance account.

Archdiocese of Los Angeles STAR Assessments

Department of Catholic Schools August 2017