[Pibe-division] STAR testing alternative for Braille readers?

Thu Sep 8 17:56:42 UTC 2016

Hi Amy,

The people at STAR need to be educated-Their statement that "the Braille format is not compatible with computer-adaptive testing" is completely false. The SBAC/CAASPP tests used in California are also CAT (Computer Adaptive Test) and are compatible with Braille... by using a refreshable Braille display. So a blanket statement that all CAT tests won't work with Braille is totally false. Sounds like the people at STAR are thinking only of printed Braille. It is true that an embossed Braille test booklet would be different than a CAT test, because the adaptive test chooses the next question based on whether or not the student correctly answered the previous question (while the embossed test is what it is, regardless of whether or not students get each question right or wrong). However, the problem would easily be solved by STAR if they made their test compatible with refreshable Braille displays. Sounds like they need a consultant to teach them a thing or two about Braille in the modern age!

You can find out more about how SBAC/CAASPP has made their Computer Adaptive Tests accessible to Braille users here:

http://www.caaspp.org/administration/accessibility/index.html

Near the bottom of the page it says "Accessibility Resource Webcasts and Trainings". There you will find specific information about using CAT tests with blind students, and how to configure their devices to work with the test:
Configuring Testing Devices for Students with Visual Impairments (April 2016)

  *   Archived Webcast (Video)<http://www.caaspp.org/rsc/videos/archived-webcast_042716.html>
  *   Configuring Testing Devices for Students with Visual Impairments (PPT)<http://www.caaspp.org/rsc/pdfs/CAASPP.apr_27-slides.2016.ppt> presentation
  *   Configuring Testing Devices for Students with Visual Impairments<https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3Zwvd-jgu6STmIybl9OaTdyRXM> resources-includes handouts, materials, installation files, and sample .brf & .prn files
Maybe you could send these links on to STAR. It would behoove them to start working on this now before they get slapped with a lawsuit...!

In regards to your original question (stepping off my soapbox, sorry), the CAASPP website does have Interim assessment available. These are specifically designed to monitor ongoing student progress throughout the school year. However, I think these are only available to users in California. :( I can't find a way to access them without a login. Your state may also have interim assessments, though, which could fall under the umbrella of their statewide summative assessments, similar to the way it is now done in California.

DIBELS is a good benchmark assessment for reading. You can get it in contracted and uncontracted Braille for grades 1-6, and uncontracted for Kindergarten.

Good luck!

Gina

From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Amy_Brush--- via PIBE-Division
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2016 12:06 PM
To: nfb group
Cc: Amy_Brush at caboces.org
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] STAR testing alternative for Braille readers?

I had explained to them that she uses online technology but the link they sent me expressly states the following:

Computer-adaptive tests including the STAR Enterprise assessments are not appropriate for blind students because the student completing the test must be able to read the text visually; the Braille format is not compatible with computer-adaptive testing. To take a STAR Early Literacy or STAR Reading assessment, a student must be able to respond to on-screen prompts that assess the ability to read print-based text. STAR Math also requires that a student respond to visual representations of mathematics symbols and notations. Educators working with a student with a visual impairment are encouraged to evaluate the suitability of STAR for that particular student and decide on an appropriate course of action.
Each item in star testing prompts/predicts the next item, so downloading and creating a test each month is not possible.

Thanks for your input.  Amy

-----"PIBE-Division" <pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org>> wrote: -----
To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List <pibe-division at nfbnet.org<mailto:pibe-division at nfbnet.org>>
From: Marianne Denning via PIBE-Division
Sent by: "PIBE-Division"
Date: 09/06/2016 02:56PM
Cc: Marianne Denning <marianne at denningweb.com<mailto:marianne at denningweb.com>>
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] STAR testing alternative for Braille readers?
I think this is reprehensible.  According to OSEP the school district is out of compliance. I know that isn't your question but it is a big problem.

On Tue, Sep 6, 2016 at 2:51 PM, Amy_Brush--- via PIBE-Division <pibe-division at nfbnet.org<mailto:pibe-division at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
Hello all,
One of my schools using STAR testing to set and track learning benchmarks in both math and literacy skills for their students.  It is expressly not recommended by renaissance learning that this system be used with blind individuals.  However; I'd like to find something comparable that can be either loaded in her Braille Sense or made into hardcopy Braille for monthly benchmark testing.
Does anyone have ideas to help with this solution?

Thank you,
Amy B

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--
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053
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