Scantron Discussion for Interpreting Post-Test Scores

Comparing Scantron Scaled Scores to Projecting a STAR Score- In order to compare the post-test score in Scantron Performance Series to see how the student would perform on the STAR test, one needs to go to the website in Assessment under Scantron and select CST Regression Chart and the CST Math and LA Plots to see where a student would need to perform on the scaled score to see if the student would fall in the proficiency range for STAR. There is not any one place for a one-to-one correspondence with any scaled score equal to what their STAR score would be. The chart only describes what their scaled score would need to be in order to be proficient in their particular grade for the STAR.

Viewing Post Test Results-In order to view the post-test results, the ES will need to go into Scantron the normal way they log in to view any of their students under site administration. They will select the Performance Series tab and the students’ most recent test scores will be viewable. If the student has post tested, then they will select “Show Previous Scores” toward the bottom and both of their scaled scores with the graph will be viewable. “Guides to Scantron Scores” sheet will help define basic terms to help the teacher understand their student’s Performance Series test results.

Comparing Pre and Post Test Results-Look at the “Observed Gains from Fall to Spring Chart” and see where your student’s scores should range based on the scaled score for each of the subject area tests they took initially. You go to their scaled score that they received on the pre-test on the far left column. Next, you look at the column that states their grade level and see what scaled score range they give for that student’s grade. For example, if you had a student that had a scaled score in the fall of 2201 and they were a third grader, their growth target range would be somewhere from {107-312}. The pattern shows that the higher a student’s scaled score is for their grade level, the smaller the growth would be for their range because they would have fewer skills to learn.

Reasonable Expectation for Gains-The “Trajectory Growth for Performance Series Tests” form looks at both the Reading and Mathematics scaled scores. They show on the chart 2^nd through 8^th graders as to what their scaled score would be during each month of the school year targeting the student’s scaled score as below average, average, and above average depending where they fall on the chart. (Remember that this is only an indicator and not an absolute hard and fast rule for each student).

Recommendations for ES’s Coaching Students Prior STAR Testing-The “CA Suggested Learning Objectives for Math Based on Scaled Scores” and the “CA Suggested Learning Objectives for ELA Based on Scaled Scores” forms give instructors content learning objectives that could be covered based on the scaled score they received. The objectives are listed first with a number in front of the objective indicating the grade level or a subject is listed if it is dealing with higher level math such as Algebra I. The actual standard strand number is listed after the grade level. For Example, if a student received a scaled score in mathematics of 1965, then they would look on page 3 of 24 under “Numbers and Operations” at the first bullet solving story problems that require the addition of two digit whole numbers at grade level 1 strand 2.6 for CA standards, etc. Notice that some of the objectives don’t list a grade or corresponding standard for CA such as the second bullet down under numbers and an operations which means that not all the test questions line up exactly with CA Standards. It still lists the content standard to cover.